Book of Condolences
I have known Fr. Grancini for 50 years. He taught me Art and Religious Education classes at Bishop Gibbons High School in North Tonawanda, NY. I will never forget his wonderful smile and sense of humor. When I moved to San Diego in the late 80s and started attending Our Lady of the Rosary Church, he met my children and had never forgotten me. He took great pleasure in telling my children all the stunts I pulled in his classes. He said it with a smile and laughter. He concelebrated at my wedding in the 60s and continued to be a large part of my life when I moved to California. I will miss him terribly - he truly was a man of God and is with Him now. God Bless You, Fr. Grancini. Rest in peace.~
Alice Melzer,
Winchester, Californi
Rimembranze
Ho voglia di profumo di colonia,
di quei campi di calcio un pò sbilenchi.
Ho voglia di quel dolce di cotogna
e dei riposi nei meriggi stanchi.
Ho voglia di preghiere al mattutino,
ho voglia di morire nel Divino.
Hallo Steve, see You soon.
Mario
Ho voglia di profumo di colonia,
di quei campi di calcio un pò sbilenchi.
Ho voglia di quel dolce di cotogna
e dei riposi nei meriggi stanchi.
Ho voglia di preghiere al mattutino,
ho voglia di morire nel Divino.
Hallo Steve, see You soon.
Mario
For more For more pictures of children's letters please log in Children for Fr. Steven.
January 08, 2011
You are a Treasure, and the Lord finds His pleasure in you. Well done good
and faithful servant. All my thoughts and prayers for all at Our Lady of the Rosary
as you grieve the loss of such a dear Father, brother, friend. If my heart aches this
much at the loss of such a dear one, I can only imagine how deeply he touched
all of your lives, as he is family to all there, and how your hearts must ache.
My prayers for him in Heaven, and for all at OLR. May Jesus bless you all with the peace
that surpasses all
understand!
~ Rosaire Johnson, OLFS, Lewiston, New York
January 08, 2011
FATHER Steven, Thank you so much for teaching me write from wrong and
for being there for me. Thank you also for marrying Kat and I.
We will miss you forever and ever. The church itself will miss your
presence as well. God Bless you Father. Rest In Peace Padre. Rest In Peace.
~ Michael Vecchione, Santee, California
January 07, 2011
Father Steven you will be greatly missed! You will be in our hearts forever....
Steve Balistreri, CA
January 07, 2011
There is no way I could ever explain in words the impact you had on my life,
Father. I know that you have met your Father and he has said to you,
a job well done my son, a job well done. My love is always with you.
Peace be with you, Father.
~ Mory Osuna,Chula Visat, California
January 07, 2011
When I first met Fr. Steven, it was 1961, he was new to America we werw all
new to high school. He was a man with a warm smile and a caring heart.
Recently as pastor in Little Italy our brief visits always included that same
warm smile and caring heart. He was truly a gift in my life.
~ William Lyons,Kenmore, New York
January 06, 2011
Katia maganuco,el cajon, California
January 06, 2011
Dear Father Steven,
Thank you for your willingness to see me whenever I called.
You always made time for me and I am most grateful.
May you rest in peace and joy with Jesus, Mary, St. Joseph
and all the Angels and Saints in Heaven.
Love in Jesus, Mary and St. Joseph, Pat
~ Pat Morris,San Diego, California
January 06, 2011
My children and I will miss you. When Enika brought us to OLR both you
and Fr. Louie welcomed us into your church family. We felt your love and
kindness everytime we saw you at OLR. Now as you join Enika in God's kingdom
I ask you both to continue to pray and watch over us. Please give her our
love and one of your hugs and tell her we miss her so much. Rest in peace Fr. Steve.
~ Maria, Cecil, Jessica, Alex, Sonia and Eddie,San DIego, California
January 06, 2011
May you rest in peace Fr. Steve. My children and I are thankful for having
been a member of your church family. When Enika brought us to OLR you
welcomed us with so much love and kindness. Rest in peace and as you join
Enika in God's kingdom give her our love. May you both continue to pray
and watch over us.
~ Maria, Cecil, Jessica, Alex, Sonia Silva and Eddie Mejia,San Diego, California
January 05, 2011
Dear Fr. Steve:
Thank you for being my confessor since I started working for the County in 1988.
Your words of encouragement helped us face our new life in the US as immigrants,
with so much hope and determination. Father, we did well after 22 years;
the kids are grown, educated and now have their own families.
Thank you for officiating our 40th wedding anniversary in 2009.
We will never forget your kindness and generosity. Please continue to pray
and watch over us now that you are in heaven with our Lord Jesus Christ
and Mother Mary.
~ Tony and Pat Espejo,San Diego, California|
January 05, 2011
We met father Steve back in 1995 when our Marriage Encounter time
in San Diego. Ever since then he favored us with his prayers, blessings
and friendship, and with his community leadership. We were blessed,
as many other couples, with the giving of Marriage Encounter weekends
with him. We love him so much. He also baptized our last of 4 daughters,
and that was very special. We regret so much to not have continued
with a close contact with him during the last few years, that it hurts
a little bit. Our prayers go to God for him, and our condolences for
his family and for all of the Italian and Marriage Encounter Communities
of the United States. Natalie & Alfredo Andere
~ Alfredo Andere,Bonita, California|
January 05, 2011
I met Fr. Steven at a rather pivotal time in my life. I had just finished
treatment for a serious illness that had cost me my future with the military,
thus entire life plans completely wiped out. The timing on his end
was he needed someone at the parish to help out with a recently
vacated position. This meeting helped to get me established and
set in motion so many amazing happenings in my life. The biggest
was my wedding, which he officiated in 2007, followed by the
miraculous birth of our son in 2009 after I was not supposed
to be able to have children because of the prior illness.
Thank you Fr. Steven for helping me get on my feet after
the biggest blow in my life and helping me to the greatest victories in my life.
~ Timothy Horning,Murrieta, California|
January 05, 2011
Era un grande uomo, uno dei migliori, Father Steven will always be
in our hearts and prayers. A truly kind and gentle man that had a
tremendous positive influence on our lives. The Alotta's
~ Larry Alotta,Belforte, PU Italy
January 05, 2011
I have great admiration for Father Steve who always had a kind
word for everyone. Thank you Father Steve. Though you will
no longer be earthbound, I know you will continue to watch over
your flock. God Bless.
~ Marie Pecoraro,San Diego, California
January 05, 2011
I met weekly with Fr. Grancini for study and adult catechism.
I would meet at the parish, check in, and sit down for an hour or so,
asking questions and listening to Fr. Grancini teach me the Word of God.
He led me through that time of doubt and inquiry. Upon finishing,
I was baptised and confirmed as an adult, obviously coming to the
church late in life. I will always be grateful for Fr. Grancini for taking
time out of his day to meet with me, to be patient with me,
and to put me at ease during that time in my life.
A great man will be missed.
~ James Sturch, El Cajon, California|
January 04, 2011
To: Father Steve
From: Girolamo
Dear Father Steve, I hope you are having an awesome time up in heaven.
You deserve to be there. If you get a chance, tell my grandpa that
I love him and miss him. Ttyl
Girolamo
~ Girolamo Carini,San Diego, California
January 04, 2011
Father Steve will be in our hearts always he brought a big impact
into our lives especially our three kids, they will truly miss him and we will,
he was always there when you needed him when my parents were
in the hospital he wouldn't even hang up the phone and he was
at the hospital visiting them, Father Steve ws a great part of our
church, he will never be forgotten,may the Angels carry you to
Paradise and have eternal life.Love Mr & Mrs Steve Balistreri & Family
~ Rosalie Balistreri,El Cajon, California
January 04, 2011
Ciao Padre Stefano. Il Padre che e' nei cieli avra' un posto speciale per te.
Non so se mi sarei sposato se non fosse stato per te....ADDIO!!!
Diego Cirillo. Roma , Italia.
~ Diego Cirillo,San Diego, California
January 04, 2011
Father Steven celebrated our marriage n 2003 and baptized our son in 2007.
He devoutly represented his faith, his wonderful OLR church and parish
and his community. His sense of humor and adaptation to generational
changes made his sermons and counsel insightful and relevant.
He now rests with the angels with the Heavenly Father's eternal
light shining upon him. Amore, Padre.
~ John and Jackie Stone,San Diego, California|
January 04, 2011
I met father Steve and Father Louie after my mom's death in 2006.
I always practiced my religion but thse two men brought me hope again.
To hear Father Steve speak in Church was magical.
He often shared aspects of his own life and some of the sadness he dealt with.
He was truly a man to look up to. He always enjoyed his food at the dinners,
frys etc. I will miss his dear face but know he will now be at peace with God.
Julie Bolton
January 04, 2011
Father Steven,
The angels are embracing you with their loving wings and the Heavenly
Father shines eternal light and grace upon your soul.
We were blessed to have Father Steven celebrate our marriage
at Our Lady in 2003 and baptize our son in 2007. Father Steven
combined a firm religious belief with the ability to adapt to generational changes.
That, combined with his sense of humor kept his sermons and counsel
insightful and relevant. You felt the pride and care he had for the faith,
his parish, the beautiful OLR church and the community.
He combined a firm "let's get it done' approach with the graciousness
of a true gentleman.
We will miss you, Father Steven but will feel your presence
every time we attend Mass or stroll through Little Italy.
Amore, Padre
~ John and Jackie Stone,San Diego, California|
January 04, 2011
Dear Father Steven,
The angels are protecting you with healing wings and the
Heavenly Father has cast your soul with eternal light.
Father Steven celebrated our marriage in 2003 and
baptized our son in 2007. He honored God, his parish
and the priesthood with a devotion that was firm yet
adaptive to the generational changes affecting all faiths.
He had a dry and funny sense of humor that with his
religious knowledge and cultural insight gave his sermons
greater meaning and relevance.
We are blessed to have experienced Father Steven's
involvement in our lives and we will miss him greatly.
Amore, Padre
~ John and Jackie Stone,San Diego, California|
January 04, 2011
Rest in Peace Father Steve
~ Monica De Santi,San Diego, California
January 04, 2011
Father Grancini was everything a pastor should be:
An effective administrator, a leader, a man who preached excellent homilies,
but truly preached by the way he lived. He was also a man
of great kindness and patience. With time for everyone,
he worked tirelessly as a priest and labored to protect
the integrity of the parish. I will miss him terribly and
my heart goes out to those closest to him. This is a huge loss,
not only for Our Lady of the Rosary, but for Little Italy,
the Barnabites and the Diocese of San Diego. May God bless
Fr. Grancini and welcome him to his eternal reward
~ Robert Kumpel,Valdosta, Georgia|
January 04, 2011
Rest in peace Dear Father.
Ron, Kiersten & Anthony Ciallella
January 04, 2011
I have known Fr. Grancini for 50 years. He taught me Art and
Religious Education classes at Bishop Gibbons High School
in North Tonawanda, NY. I will never forget his wonderful smile and sense of humor.
When I moved to San Diego in the late 80s and started attending
Our Lady of the Rosary Church, he met my children and had never forgotten me.
He took great pleasure in telling my children all the stunts I pulled in his classes.
He said it with a smile and laughter. He concelebrated at my wedding
in the 60s and continued to be a large part of my life when I moved to California.
I will miss him terribly - he truly was a man of God and is with Him now.
God Bless You, Fr. Grancini. Rest in peace.
~ Alice Melzer,Winchester, California
