Obituary of Dennis W. Mende

Rev. Dennis W. Mende, 74, of Jamestown, died Wednesday September 8, 2021, in UPMC Chautauqua. He was born December 7, 1946, in Franklin, New Jersey, a son of the late Rudolph and Margaret Torok Mende. He was a graduate of Kenmore East High School and SUNY Albany before receiving his Master of Theology degree from Christ the King Seminary. Ordained as a priest November 19, 1983, he served in various churches in the Buffalo area before his assignment to SS Peter and Paul Catholic Church. He oversaw the consolidation of SS Peter and Paul with St. John Church to become Holy Apostles Parish and he was recently named pastor of St. James Catholic Church. Father Dennis loved his time in Jamestown. He was a great man of God who also enjoyed gardening, traveling, and listening to music. He was well read and always enjoyed hearing about the lives of his great nieces and nephews and their families. Surviving is a niece Doris (Tom) Johnson of Kenmore; nephew Mark (Susan) Mende of Canton, NY; great nieces and nephews Christina (Matthew) Sande, Michelle (Anthony) Carestia, Thomas Johnson, Eric (Meta) Mende and Matthew Mende and great great nieces and nephews Ava, Maia, Zachary, Lucas and Jacob. He was preceded in death by his brother Richard Mende and sister in law Mary Mende. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 am Tuesday in Holy Apostles Parish SS Peter and Paul Catholic Church. Burial will be Holy Cross Cemetery. Friends will be received in the church from noon to 7 pm Monday with the family present from 1-5 pm and from 9-11 am Tuesday with the family present from 10-11 am. A Vigil Prayer Service will be led at 7 pm Monday in the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Holy Apostles Parish, SS Peter and Paul Catholic Church, 508 Cherry Street, Jamestown, NY 14701. You may leave words of condolence at www.lindfunerlahome.com.