A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Sept. 17 at Saint Anthony Parish, Butler, for Rev. Raymond P. Beach, O.F.M., 91, who died on Sept. 14.
A native of West New York, he was a professed Franciscan friar of Holy Name Province for 69 years. He was ordained a priest in 1945.

From 1947-1950, Fr. Beach was parochial vicar at Saint Joseph Parish, East Rutherford. In 1950, he became parochial vicar of Holy Name Parish, Garfield, and then pastor from 1955-1961. In 1970, he was assigned to Our Lady of the Assumption Parish, Wood-Ridge, as parochial vicar where he served for six years before moving to Sacred Heart Parish, Rochelle Park, in 1976.

In April 2005, Fr. Beach retired to Saint Anthony Friary, Butler.