Deacon Paul Johnson died at Voorhees Senior Living on June 30 after a long illness. He was 75.
He was ordained Oct. 15, 1988 at Sacred Heart Church in Vineland. He served initially at St. Vincent Pallotti Parish in Haddon Township and in 1998 he was assigned to the Church of St. Andrew in Gibbsboro. In addition to his parish duties, Deacon Johnson was devoted to hospital ministry, a ministry in which he had served even before entering diaconate formation.
“Within a few years of his ordination, Paul began his own ordeal with multiple serious illnesses that impaired his eyesight, restricted his mobility and forced him into a program of kidney dialysis three times a week,” said Deacon Leo McBlain, director of the permanent diaconate, Diocese of Camden. “Nonetheless, Paul never lost his spirit of joy and hope. Based on his own experience and his faith in Christ, he strove to be a sign of hope for anyone who was dealing with serious illness or physical limitations.”
Deacon Johnson was born and raised in the Fairview section of Camden in St. Joan of Arc Parish. He graduated from Camden High School. in 1952. He attended LaSalle College for three years and then served in the Army during the Korean War. After returning he worked for 36 years as a delivery person for the Haddonfield Post Office retiring in 1994.
Deacon Johnson was the husband of the late Margaret “Marge” (nee Magurney). Devoted father of Paul A. of Cherry Hill, Diane and her husband Frank Palogruto of Erial, Stephen A. and his wife Terri of Mt Laurel, Denise and her husband Tom Steinert of Clementon, Mary Ellen and her husband Jim McCollum of Voorhees, David M. and his wife Nicole of Franklinville and Christine and her husband Steve Eustace of Gibbsboro, Loving grandfather of 18. Dear brother of Joan Schules, Leon, Donald, the late William and the late Thomas.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, July 3 at 10 am., at St. Andrew the Apostle Church, 120 United States Avenue, Gibbsboro.
Burial with Military Honors at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Berlin. The family requests in lieu of flowers, donations in his memory to 2009 Feed the Children PO Box 36, Oklahoma City, OK 73101.
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