Rev. Monsignor J. Robert Yeazel

Monsignor J. Robert Yeazel passed away on March 12, 2026, at Francis House in Syracuse. The son of Florence and Harold Yeazel, he graduated from Christian Brothers Academy in the class of 1959 and from St. Bernard’s Seminary, where he earned a B.A. in Philosophy and a Master of Divinity. He later received an M.A. in Child and Family Studies from Syracuse University in 1972. Ordained a priest in 1967 at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Syracuse, Monsignor Yeazel began his ministry as Associate Pastor at St. Patrick’s Church in Binghamton and later at the Cathedral. He served as Priest Secretary to Bishop Frank Harrison and Bishop David Cunningham, and held numerous leadership roles in the Diocese of Syracuse, including Vice Chancellor, Chancellor, Vicar for Administration, Vicar for Priests, Regional Vicar for Onondaga and Cortland counties, and Vicar General to Bishop Robert Cunningham.

He served as Pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish in Fayetteville from 1980 to 1992 and of Holy Cross Church in DeWitt from 2000 to 2017. In 2007 he was named Chaplain to His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI and given the title of Monsignor, and in 2013 he was appointed Honorary Prelate to His Holiness. He was also a Knight of the Holy Sepulchre. Deeply committed to service, Monsignor Yeazel began each day with the celebration of the Holy Eucharist and devoted the remainder of his time to journeying with the Lord in service to the Church and the wider community. He served on many boards, including those of Hospice of Central New York, Francis House, Christian Brothers Academy, the Syracuse Interreligious Council, Loretto Geriatric and Loretto Foundation, the Diocesan Board of Consultors, the New York State Troopers Foundation, Blue Cross Project Children, and the Board of Trustees of Le Moyne College, where he chaired the Presidential Search Committee. He also served on the boards of St. Bernard’s Seminary and, most recently, the Road to Emmaus Ministry. In addition, he was chaplain to Francis House, the Binghamton Police, the St. Anthony Motherhouse, the Dominican Monastery in Syracuse, and the Syracuse University football team for seven years under Coach Paul Pasqualoni.

Monsignor Yeazel is survived by his brother Richard and his wife Frances of Reisterstown, Maryland; his four nephews—Matthew Yeazel and his wife Jessica of Odenton, Maryland; Casey Yeazel and his wife Arlene of Bakersfield, California, and their daughters Vanessa, Sophia, and Mia; Bryan Yeazel and his wife Melissa of Raleigh, North Carolina, and their sons Colin and Reid; and Christopher Yeazel and his wife Arya of Washington, D.C.—as well as his faithful dog Sophie.