Father Charles Armey, 79

    Father Charles R. Armey Jr., 79, of Shrewsbury, passed into the loving arms of his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Feb. 17.
    Father Armey was born in Worcester, son of Helen L. (Ross) Lane and Charles R. Armey. He graduated from St. Peter Central Catholic High School in 1960, and magna cum laude from Worcester State College in 1975, with a bachelor’s degree in sociology. In 1973, he received the “Certificat d’Etudes” from the French government after completing a study of 2,000 years of French history. He also received a graduate assistantship in educational administration from the University of Nevada in 1976.
    He served as director of music and organist at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, for many years. He completed his studies for the priesthood in 1980 at St. Bernard Seminary in Rochester, New York, receiving a master of divinity degree.
    Father Armey was ordained a priest on Sept. 20, 1980, by Bishop Bernard J. Flanagan in St. Paul Cathedral in Worcester. His first assignments was as associate pastor of St. Mary Parish in Spencer. He also appointed associate pastor of St. Bernard Parish in Fitchburg on June 13, 1984; and associate of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Worcester on Sept. 1, 1987.
    He was named pastor of Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Southbridge on June 18, 1993. In 1999, he was granted a summer sabbatical in Paris, where he attended the American University. He was named pastor of Our Lady of Loreto Parish in Worcester, on June 30, 2007,
where he served until his retirement July 1, 2015.
    During his retirement, Father Armey continued his priestly minister, by celebrating Mass regularly at St. John Parish in Worcester.
    Father Armey is survived by his cousins, Janet F. Perry and her family of Auburn; and Cynthia Butts and her family of Windsor, Connecticut. A calling hour will be on Thursday, Feb. 20, from 6-7 p.m., followed by a vigil service at 7 p.m. in St. John’s Church, 44 Temple St., Worcester.
    His funeral Mass will be on Friday, Feb. 21, at 10 a.m. in St. John’s. Interment beside his mother will follow at Notre Dame Cemetery, Worcester. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to The Clergy Benefit Plan, in care of Father Edward D. Niccolls, 40 Brattle St., Worcester, MA 01606.