Father Bernard Finerty, OFM Cap., 79, passed away Friday in Cumberland, Md., following several months of rapidly declining health.

He was born to John and Pauline Dieterle Finerty on July 31, 1935, and was baptized at the St. Bernard Church in Mount Lebanon, Pa.

Father Bernard was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Mary Patricia Norton.

He leaves to mourn his passing, his sister, Carol Sherry and her husband, Jack; his brother, Gregory and his wife, Mary Ann; and his many nieces and nephews.

After attending the parish grade school, he entered the St. Fidelis Seminary in Herman.

In 1955, he was invested in the habit of the Capuchin Order, and in 1956 professed his first vows as a friar. Father Bernard received a degree in theology in 1962 from Capuchin College in Washington, D.C.

Father Bernard was ordained on June 3, 1961, in the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. Subsequently, he attended Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, earning a Masters of Education.

As his first assignment and for most of the next 17 years, he served in various capacities at the St. Fidelis Seminary, including dean of studies and a classroom teacher. Being a fine athlete himself, he helped coach the school's athletic teams. Father Bernard loved to sing and even composed songs for worship. He thoroughly embraced his ministry at the seminary and enjoyed the friendship of his confreres on the faculty.

Father Bernard was an inspiration to the many students who attended the seminary from 1963 until 1980 when the school closed, a decision which broke his heart.

Father remained at St. Fidelis for the next eight years to direct the newly founded Retreat Center. He was a well-known preacher of retreats, parish missions and recollection days.

In 1988, he moved to Our Lady of Peace Friary in Conway, which served as his base as he traveled throughout the country to preach. In 2000, he relocated to St. Clare Friary in Clairton and continued his preaching ministry. One year later he became the director of Paul VI Pastoral Center in Wheeling, W.Va., coordinating retreats and conferences while actively maintaining a vigorous preaching calendar.

Father Bernard was assigned as parochial vicar at SS. Peter and Paul Parish in Cumberland, Md., in 2003. He would remain in Cumberland the remainder of his life. In 2011, when the Catholic parishes of Cumberland were united as one parish, Our Lady of the Mountains, Father Bernard was named to the new pastoral staff.

He had a great fondness for the people of SS. Peter and Paul Parish and subsequently the parishioners of Our Lady of the Mountains. He found great support among the people he served in Cumberland, many of whom regarded Father Bernard as the best priest they had ever known.

Finerty— The body of Father Bernard Finerty, OFM Cap., who passed away Friday, Jan. 23, 2015, will be received today at the Shrine of SS. Peter and Paul, 125 Fayette St., Cumberland, Md. Visitation and viewing will take place from noon until the prayer service at 7 p.m.Father Bernard's body will be received at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the St. Augustine Friary, 221 36th St., Pittsburgh. Visitation and viewing will follow until 4 p.m. and from 7 to 9 p.m. with a wake service at 8 p.m.The Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Our Lady of the Angels Parish, St. Augustine Church, 228 37th St., Lawrenceville. Interment in the Friar's Plot at St. Augustine Cemetery will take place immediately after the funeral Mass.In lieu of flowers, donations in honor of Father Bernard may be made to The Capuchin Friars, 220 37th St., Pittsburgh PA 15201.Professional services are trusted to the D'Alessandro Funeral Home, Lawrenceville.For more information, visit www.dalessandroltd.com.