Reverend Father Daniel Joseph Loya, 81, a descendent of more than a thousand-year history of priestly families, fell asleep in the Lord on Friday, June 10 at his home.
Born in Windber, Pa. he was the thirteenth of 17 children born to Margaret (Boksay) and Very Reverend Stephen Loya, translator of many books used in the Byzantine Catholic Church. Father Daniel considered 13 a blessed number.
He was educated at Holy Name Elementary School, Duquesne, Pa.; St. Fidelis High School, Herman, Pa.; and Duquesne University and SS. Cyril and Methodius Seminary, both in Pittsburgh, Pa.
He served the Archeparchy as a member of the Priests’ Pension Board, and he retired from active ministry in 2014.
Ordained for the Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh by Bishop Nicholas T. Elko in 1966, he served in the Pennsylvania parishes of St. Nicholas, Brownsville; St. Mary, Duquesne; St. Mary, Windber; St. Mary, East Pittsburgh, and Holy Trinity, Wall; St. George in Youngstown and St Michael, Pleasant City, Ohio; and St. Mary, Morgantown, W. Va..
Upon retirement, he lived on the family country home in Dawson, Pa. which he called his Mt. Athos. He was able to celebrate the Divine Liturgy in the chapel at home there, and he enjoyed maintaining the grounds as he did during his years of active ministry
In addition to his parents, Father Daniel was preceded in death by three sisters: Mary Najeski and two who died at birth; and eight brothers: Frank, Paul, Reverend Father John, Joseph, Michael, Stephen, Eugene, and Theodore. Surviving him are two brothers: Andrew of Dawson and Lawrence (Bernadette) of Florida; three sisters: Helen Hvasta of Florida, Anna Jane (Thomas) Petty of New Jersey, and Kathleen Killian of Ohio; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins, in both the United States and Europe.
Family and friends were received at St. Nicholas Byzantine Catholic Church, Perryopolis, Pa. on Wednesday, June 15.
A Priestly Parastas was celebrated that evening by Very Reverend Andrew Deskevich, and Reverend Fathers Will Rupp and Michael Kunitz cantored. In attendance were: Very Reverends Frank Firko, Vasyl Symyon; and Thomas Loya; Reverend Fathers Jerome Botsko, Thomas Dansak, Oleh Seremchuk, Vitalii Stashkevych, and Stephen Wahal
The Divine Liturgy was celebrated on Thursday morning by Very Reverend Andrew Deskevich. Very Reverend Thomas Loya was a concelebrant and homilist. The other concelebrants were Very Reverends James Spontak, and Vasyl Symyon; and Reverend Fathers Joseph Loya OSA, Peter Boksay, Oleh Seremchuk, Stephen Wahal, Ivan Rusyn, Donald Voss and Jerome Botsko,
Father Will Rupp and Seminarian Luke Iyengar served as cantors.
Interment followed in the Loya family plot at Mt. Macrina Cemetery, Uniontown, Pa.
In blessed repose, grant O Lord eternal rest to your departed servant the priest Daniel and remember him forever! n
