Reverend John A. Poerio

LAKE CHARLES – The Reverend John A. Poerio, 90, a priest of the Diocese of Lake Charles, died Thursday, October 26, in Villa Maria Retirement Center. He had been a priest for 63 years.

Visitation will be Monday, Oct. 30, from 4 to 8 p.m. in Our Lady Queen of Heaven Catholic Church with a Scripture Service at 6 p.m.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, Oct. 31 at 11 a.m. from Our Lady Queen of Heaven Catholic Church with The Most Reverend Glen John Provost, Bishop of Lake Charles, as the celebrant and homilist. Visitation will recommence on Tuesday at 8:30 a.m. in the church with a Rosary at 10 a.m. Burial will follow the Mass in New Bethany Cemetery located on the grounds of Saint Charles Center in Moss Bluff under the direction of Johnson Funeral Home.

Father Poerio, a native of Chicago Heights, Ill., was born April 13, 1933, to Peter and Rose Benedict Poerio.

He is survived by two sisters-in-law, Shirley and Angel Poerio along with nieces and nephews.

Preceding him in death are his parents and siblings Mary Lou, Peter, and Joseph.

Father Poerio, the third of the four children, grew up surrounded by the influence of two uncles – Msgr. Michael Benedict and Msgr. James Benedict, priests of the Archdiocese of New Orleans and an aunt, Sr. Angela Benedict, a member of the Sisters of St. Francis. His sister, (Mary Lou), would also join a religious order Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary, being known as Sr. Anthony Poerio, IBVM.

Retired. since 2003, Father Poerio served as associate pastor in the parishes of St. Margaret of Scotland in Lake Charles, St. John Cathedral in Lafayette, Our Lady of Perpetual Help in New Iberia, and St. Raphael in Iowa.

He was pastor to St. Lawrence in Raymond, Sacred Heart of Jesus in Oakdale, St. Raphael in Iowa, St. John Vianney in Bell City, and St. Mary of the Lake in Big Lake.