DETROIT — When remembering the impact Fr. Paul Larry Siroskey had on those around him, friends and colleagues all referenced the priest's positive spirit as a key part of his demeanor and personality.
Fr. Siroskey, known as “Father Larry” to his friends and parishioners, passed away on Jan. 14 at the age of 67.
Born in 1952, Fr. Siroskey attended Sacred Heart Seminary High School from 1966-70. He graduated from the University of Detroit with a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy and later with a Master of Divinity from St. John’s Provincial Seminary in Plymouth Township.
He was ordained a priest on May 31, 1980, at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Detroit. From there, Fr. Siroskey served as an associate pastor at St. John Neumann Parish in Canton (1980-84) and then at SS. Peter and Paul (Westside) Parish, Detroit (1984-88).
He later served as pastor of St. Christine Parish in Detroit from 1989-95, and as associate pastor of St. Frances Cabrini Parish in Allen Park from 1996-98.
From 1998-2007, Fr. Siroskey was pastor of St. Helena Parish in Wyandotte, and served two stints as vicar of the Downriver Vicariate, from 2003-04 and as co-vicar from 2004-06. From 2006-07, he served as pastor of St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish in Wyandotte, while also chaplain of Henry Ford Hospital in Wyandotte.
His last assignment was as pastor of St. Benedict Parish in Waterford from 2012-14.
During his time at St. Benedict, he delighted in working with the youth group, and they loved him in return, said Constance Cunningham, parish sacristan who briefly worked with Fr. Siroskey. “He was very devoted, kind and sweet,” Cunningham said.
Due to health complications, Fr. Siroskey spent his final years at Lourdes Nursing Home and the Medilodge of Farmington.
Notably, Fr. Siroskey spent several years in the 1990s working as a police chaplain in Detroit and Allen Park, including as chief of the Allen Park Chaplain Corps.
One of Fr. Siroskey's lifelong friends, Bill Bouie, recalled his former classmate at Sacred Heart Seminary High School as an excellent student who excelled at everything he touched and an avid sports fan, particularly of local Detroit teams: the Lions, Tigers and Red Wings.
Bouie said he was one of three black students in the 1970 graduating class at Sacred Heart, and Fr. Siroskey particularly stood out for his inviting and open nature, despite the segregation that was rampant in Fr. Siroskey’s hometown, Dearborn. Bouie spent many days at his friend Larry’s home, something that Bouie says was unheard of for the time and place.
“Larry had no problem saying, ‘Bill is one of my best friends, and this is who I go to school with.’ I so respect him for that. We just hit it off. Anyway, he didn’t care,” said Bouie, president and CEO of Sky Communications. “He saw things very clearly and he always did the right thing. I can’t ever remember him saying anything negative about anybody or ever doing anything bad.”
Bouie spoke with Fr. Siroskey a couple of weeks before his death and said he was optimistic and maintained a positive spirit right up until the end.
“He wanted to be a priest more than anybody else,” Bouie said, adding he believes Fr. Siroskey’s early dedication to service, kind nature and his desire to help others led him to the priesthood.
Chuck Piotrowski, another friend of Fr. Siroskey’s from high school who visited the priest several times during his final years, said despite Fr. Siroskey's health challenges later in life, his dream of being reassigned to a parish kept him going.
“He’s a gentle soul who will be missed,” Bouie said. “I will certainly miss his presence, his friendship and his love.”
View his online death notice to share a memory of Fr. Siroskey and to send flowers with his family.
