Obituary of Rev. Charles J. Countie O.Carm.

Rev. Charles J. Countie, O.Carm of the Carmelite Fathers, died Monday at the Lahey Clinic Medical Center, Burlington, Ma following a long illness. He was born in Salem, Ma on January 25, 1934, the son of the late Francis I. and Marion P. (Powers) Countie and attended Sacred Heart School Academy in Andover and St. Mary’s High School in Lynn. He then entered the Carmelite Junior Seminary in Hamilton in 1947 and professed his vows as a brother in 1954 taking the religious name “Gregory”. He was stationed in Pennsylvania and made his solemn profession to the Order of Carmelites in Hamilton, MA in 1957. He was first assigned to Mt. Carmel High School in Chicago, IL and in 1965 he was relocated to Peru in Mifaflores, Lima and while there earned a bachelor’s degree in religious education. He returned to the United States in 1974 to continue studies at Merrimac College in No Andover. He then focused on Theological studies and transferred to Pope John XX111 Seminary in Weston, MA for his preparation for priesthood. He was ordained on May 6, 1978 in Danvers, MA and started his ministry in Tucson, Arizona as chaplain at Salpointe Catholic High School. From 1975 until 1981, Fr. Charles assisted the Provinces’ vocational efforts and was assigned to St. Gertrude Parish in Stockton, CA serving as associate pastor. In 1981 he returned to Lima, Peru resuming his pastoral duties there as a priest and he would remark that his years serving in Peru were his most fruitful. Pastoral Ministry would remain Father Countie’s area for years to where he served in parishes that included ST. Anastasia in Teaneck, NJ, St. Therese Parish, Cresskill, NJ, Saint Cecilia’s in Louisville, KY and St. Gertrude Parish in Stockton, California where he was named pastor and served 10 years there. In 1999, Fr. Charles returned to Massachusetts serving at Our Lady of the Scapular Priory in Peabody and also helped staff the Carmelite Chapel of St. Therese at the North shore Mall. In 2000, Father left to serve in Casa del Carmon in Mexico City, Mexico and later at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish in Joliet, Illinois. In 2004 Father came back to his retirement at Our Lady of Scapular Priory in Peabody. While here he assisted as chaplain of the Leo Council #508, Knights of Columbus of Peabody, St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Peabody and helping the Spanish communities at St. Mary’s and Sacred Heart Churches in Lynn and St. James Church in Salem prior to his illness. Surviving him besides his fellow brotherhood of Carmelite priests are three brother and sisters-in-law, Francis and Marcia Countie of Salem, Ma and Naples, Fl., William and Elizabeth Countie of Danvers, MA and Naples, FL and Ralph and Jeannette Countie of Salem, MA and many loving nieces and nephews and grand nieces and grand nephews. A Visitation will be held at Our Lady of Scapular Carmelite Priory at 4 Wheatland St., Peabody on Friday, Jan. 2, 2009 from 3:00 until 8:00 P.M.. A Concelebrated Mass on Christian Burial will be held on Saturday at 10:00 A.M. at the Discalced Carmelite Monastery, 15 Mt. Carmel Rd. Danvers, Ma. Burial will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Salem. Expressions of sympathy may be made to Carmelite Chapel of St. Therese, North Shore Mall, 210 Andover St., Peabody, A 01960 in his memory.