Mar 5, 2007 3 min read

The Reverend Father Fabian G. Oris, a retired priest of the Diocese of Greensburg, died on Friday, March 2, 2007, in the Horizon Personal Care Home, Fairchance, Pennsylvania. He was 92. Father Oris was born on January 3, 1915, to Matthias Oris and Frances Toth Oris in Uniontown, Pennsylvania.

He attended the former Gallatin Elementary School on Gallatin Avenue in Uniontown and graduated from Uniontown High School, Saint Vincent College and Saint Vincent Seminary in Latrobe, Pennsylvania.

Father Oris was ordained to the priesthood on June 14, 1942, in Saint Vincent Arch Abbey by Pittsburgh Bishop Hugh C. Boyle.

Father Oris served as Parochial Vicar of the former Saint Mary Parish, Brownsville, Pa., and Saint Bernard of Clairvaux Parish in Indiana, Pa.

Father Oris served as Pastor of Saint Hedwig Parish in Smock (1955-1962), Saint Florian Parish in United (1962-1971), Holy Rosary Parish in Republic (1971-1973), and Saint Mary (Nativity) Parish, his home parish, Uniontown, from 1973 until his retirement from active ministry in 1990.

Father Oris also served in diocesan assignments as District Director of the Sodality of Our Lady, as Director of Sodalities of the Blessed Virgin Mary, as a member and Director of the Diocesan Liturgical Commission, and as Director of the Priests’ Eucharistic League.

Father Oris was preceded in death by his parents, brothers and sisters, Frank Oris, John Oris, Pauline Oris Kotlar and Joseph Oris, an infant sister, a niece, Gloria Kotlar, a great-nephew, Matthew Oris, and a great-niece, Janet Roth Potkul.

Father Oris is survived by a sister, Kathryn Oris Hunt of Cleveland, Ohio; and by his loving nephews and nieces: Frank Oris Jr., Frances DeFrank, John Oris Jr., Bernadette Elder, Richard Oris, Dolores Kotlar Roth, Stephen Kotlar, Fabian Kotlar, Matthew Oris, Thomas Oris, Arlene Denning and Shirley Carlozzi; and was a great-uncle and great-great-uncle to many.

The family will receive friends in the STEPHEN R. HAKY FUNERAL HOME INC., 603 North Gallatin Avenue Extension, Uniontown, Pa., today from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.

Visitation will continue on Tuesday, March 6, in SAINT MARY (NATIVITY) ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH, North Mount Vernon Avenue, Uniontown, from 9:30 a.m. until 10:30 a.m.

Greensburg Bishop Lawrence E. Brandt will celebrate the Funeral Mass at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, March 6, 2007, at Saint Mary (Nativity) Roman Catholic Church where Father Oris served as Pastor for 17 years before retiring from active ministry.

Interment will follow in Saint Mary (Nativity) Cemetery, Uniontown, Pennsylvania.

Parish Wake Service will be held in the Funeral Home Chapel this evening at 8 p.m.

Visitation was also held Sunday evening from 7 to 9 p.m.