FRASER, V. REV. STEPHEN A.

It is with great sadness that the family of the Very Reverend Stephen A. Fraser announce that on Wednesday, April 5th, 2023, at Hospice of the Valley, Thunderbird House, Father Stephen passed away peacefully with his wife by his side.

He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Marlene (nee Held), sister-in-law, Mary Johns, nieces and nephews, Michelle (Will), Ryan (Jane), Dianne (Olindo), Mark (Michelle), John (Annick), Trisha (Jeff), great nieces and nephews, Taylor, Josh, Erica, Abby, Sarah, Stephanie, Arielle, Deanna, Daniel, all who reside in Canada.

Father Stephen was born on August 12th, 1937, in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada to Arthur Fraser and Bessie Fraser (neeWashburn). Stephen and Marlene were married in 1968 and two weeks after their wedding, they moved to Hastings-on -Hudson, N.Y. so Stephen could enter Saint Vladimir’s Seminary in Crestwood, N. Y. to study for the priesthood in the Orthodox Church. During his final year he was ordained to the diaconate and then to the priesthood where he was first assigned to serve at Saint John Damascus Orthodox Church in Boston, M.A. Father remained at Saint John’s for five years when he had the calling to help found Saint Anna Orthodox Church in Roslindale, MA. While ministering to his flock in Roslindale, Father Stephen also took on the task of a secular job at Honeywell.

It was this job at Honeywell that brought him to Phoenix, Arizona. Once settled in from the transfer to Phoenix, Father helped establish Holy Trinity Orthodox Church, all the while continuing to work for Honeywell and traveling twice to Paris and Spain for the company. He continued his studies and received his bachelor’s degree from Ottawa University and his master’s degree from Saint Vladimir’s Seminary. He continued to complete additional courses towards his doctorate, authoring a book entitled “Genuine Orthodox Church of Greece (GOC), A Brief History and Commentary”.
Although Father Stephen and Marlene had no children of their own, he leaves behind many spiritual sons and daughters and godchildren. Father Stephen is predeceased by his father and mother, brothers Bill and Donnie, sisters Betty, Geri and Dorothy. Special thanks to the caregivers at Ark of Life Memory Care Group Home, the nurses at Banner Thunderbird ICU, and Hospice of the Valley for their dedication and kindness in caring for Father Stephen.

Trisagion Service will be held on Sunday, April 9th at 5:30 pm, with Funeral service on Monday, April 10th at 10:00 am, at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 2502 N 28th Place, Phoenix, AZ 85008.