Funeral Mass celebrated for Deacon Norman George Amero

A funeral Mass was celebrated Aug. 8 at St. Mary Church in Oak Ridge for Deacon Norman George Amero, who died Aug. 1 at his home after a three-year battle with cancer. He was 77.

Bishop Richard F. Stika was the principal celebrant of the Mass. Concelebrating were priests of the Diocese of Knoxville, with deacons from the diocese also taking part. Father Michael Sweeney, pastor of Blessed Sacrament Parish in Harriman, St. Ann Parish in Lancing, and St. Christopher Parish in Jamestown, gave the homily.

Deacon Amero

Deacon Amero was born on March 22, 1940, in New Haven, Conn., the only child of the late George William and Mildred Irene Amero. After graduating from Northeastern University in Boston with a degree in mechanical engineering in 1963, he served on active duty in the U.S. Army as a first lieutenant, stationed in Tacoma, Wash.

He also served in the Army Reserves and then the Tennessee State Guard.

Deacon Amero owned and operated a consulting firm for the tire business, an industry in which he worked for more than 50 years.

He received the sacrament of holy orders on June 9, 2007, and served as a deacon at St. Ann Parish in Lancing. He also was assigned to the prison ministry at Morgan County Correctional Complex in Wartburg, providing spiritual guidance to the prisoners.

Among the organizations he was involved in through the years were the Knights of Columbus, the Elks, AMVETS, Junior Achievement, and the Boy Scouts of America.

He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Barbara Ann McNulty Amero. He also is survived by daughter Michelle Amero of Oak Ridge; sons Jeffrey Amero and wife Denise of Lakeland, Fla., and James Amero and wife Marcia of Oil City, Pa.; grandchildren James Amero II and Elizabeth Amero; and a cousin, Starr Rutland.

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