Obituary of The Reverend Fr. Stephen Dambrauskas

The Reverend Fr. Stephen Dambrauskas 87, passed away Wednesday December 30, 2009 in Dunedin. Born in Brooklyn, NY Sept. 4, 1922, the son of Anthony & Edna Miliauskas Dambrauskas. He was ordained to the priesthood September 15, 1948 in Chicago, Ill. For the Congregation of Marian Fathers and served as Provincial Secretary. In 1961 he left the order and joined as a priest in the Diocese of Miami later the Diocese of St. Petersburg. His parish appointments included Our Lady of The Rosary in Land O Lakes where he served as pastor for twenty four years until his retirement in 1994. He was also a canon lawyer and in retirement, assisted various parishes at weekend masses. He will be remembered as a warm and loving priest, who served all of God's people with joy and always with a smile. He had a very special devotion to the Blessed Mother. "Well done, good and faithful servant!" Survivors include his nephew, Joel M. Harris of New York; and cousins, including Edward and Frances Meliosky of Amsterdam. The con-celebrated Mass Of Christian Burial will be offered Friday at 1:00 pm at St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church, 156 East Main Street Amsterdam. Fr. Steve will lie in state from 12 noon Friday at the church. Interment will follow the mass in St. Casimir's Cemetery. Contributions may be made to St. Mary's Church in care of the funeral home office. Fr. Steve's arrangements have been entrusted to the care of the Betz, Rossi & Bellinger Family Funeral Home, 171 Guy Park Avenue.