Age 87, of Poland and Waynesburg, “Father Joe” passed away Thursday, April 4, 2024. He was born January 8, 1937 in Youngstown, a son of the late Frank and Frances (Yarnovich) Zamary, and was a lifelong Youngstown-area resident. He graduated from Ursuline High School in 1955.
Father Joe’s road to the priesthood was a long and twisting one. After high school he attended St. Mary’s College in Kentucky and St. John Vianny Seminary in Steubenville, but as Father Joe said, “He and Latin did not get along.” So he came home and went into business with his brother, running an Isaly Dairy store. Then he and his brothers built a car wash business, after which he managed two Hardee’s Restaurants for 24 years.
When the Diocese began the Permanent Diaconate program in 1975, he entered it and was ordained a deacon in 1977, serving at Sacred Heart Parish in Youngstown (now part of St. Angela Merici Parish), while still managing a Hardees. While there, the pastor went on sabbatical and asked him to become administrator full time. He met with Bishop Tobin, who re-accepted him in the vocation program, and he went to Sacred Heart School of Theology in Wisconsin. Father Joe was ordained a priest on May 26, 2001, saying, “It was the happiest day of my life.” He was assigned to St. Michael’s Parish in Canton in 2001, and in 2005 he was installed as pastor of St. James Parish in Waynesburg by Bishop George Murray, and had been their beloved pastor for 18 years, retiring July 1, 2023.
Father Joe had a saying, “Be careful what you pray for. In His good time, I got the answer to my prayers.” He was a member of St. Vincent DePaul in Youngstown and served as a private prison chaplain for the State of Ohio.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by three brothers, Frank, Jr., James and Edward. Father Joe is survived by three sisters and four brothers, Frances Timko, Bernice DeVito, Carol (Dan) Ornelas, John Zamary, Robert (Joan) Zamary, Tom Zamary and Charles (Carol) Zamary; 28 nieces and nephews, 55 great-nieces and nephews, and 21 great-great-nieces and nephews.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Thursday, April 11, 2024, at 1 p.m. in St. Columba Cathedral in Youngstown with Bishop Bonnar as celebrant. Friends and family may call at St. Columba Cathedral on Wednesday, April 10, 2024 from 4 to 7 p.m., with a vigil service to follow. Additional visitation will be held at St. James Parish in Waynesburg on Tuesday, April 9, 2024 from 4 to 7 p.m., followed by a prayer service. Interment will be in the family plot in Calvary Cemetery in Youngstown. The Finefrock-Gordon Funeral Home in Magnolia, OH is handling arrangements. Condolences may be sent to: www.gordonfuneralhomes.com
