Dr. Frank A. Iula, 82, a deacon at St. Rose of Lima Parish, Haddon Heights, for more than 30 years, and a beloved doctor in the community, died Saturday, March 7.
Born in Garfield, N.J. on Oct. 8, 1926, Dr. Iula was raised in Vineland by his aunt and uncle and attended Vineland High School. During World War II, he served in the United States Army.
Following an honorable discharge in 1946, Dr. Iula graduated from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore and received his medical degree from the University of Bologna, Italy. He performed a family practice internship at West Jersey Hospital, Camden, and a year of OB-GYN at Bucks County Hospital in Pennsylvania.
For more than 52 years, he maintained a family practice in Mt. Ephraim.
Dr. Iula was a member of the first graduating class of the Camden Diocese Diaconate Program and was ordained by Bishop George Guilfoyle on Oct. 4, 1976. Until his retirement in 2009, he was a permanent deacon at St. Rose of Lima.
He and his wife, Rose, were instrumental in the Charismatic Renewal movement along the East Coast and worked closely with Auxiliary Bishop James L. Schad in the leadership of the moverment in its early years in the Diocese of Camden. Both Dr. Iula and his wife were frequent speakers at Diocesan and East Coast conferences.
The couple were also involved in a number of charities and causes, and were members of Tavistock Country Club for more than 40 years.
Dr. Iula’s greatest passion in life was his 46-year old disabled son, John Blake.
In 1995, Dr. Iula was honored as a Knight of St. Gregory the Great for his character, reputation and notable accomplishments.
On Oct. 9, 2005, Dr. Iula received the St. Luke Award from the Diocese of Camden and the South Jersey Catholic Medical Association in recognition of his longtime work in the community.
Deacon Leo McBlain, director of the Diocesan Office of the Diaconate and a classmate of Dr. Iula’s in 1976, recalled a “humble man who gave his life for anyone in need of a doctor or spiritual (advice).”
Deacon McBlain said that Dr. and Mrs. Iula were “deeply spiritual people, with a wonderful gift to communicate the truths of our religion, and God’s love for us all.”
Msgr. John Frey, who worked with Dr. Iula as pastor at St. Rose of Lima for the past seven years, remembers when, as a young priest in 1971 at Our Lady of Grace Parish, Somerdale, he would attend the charismatic events held by Dr. Iula at St. Rose of Lima.
“He was a remarkably humble, joyful man,” said Msgr. Frey.
In his work throughout the community, ministering to parishioners, priests, and sisters alike, Msgr. Frey noted, Dr. Iula was a “remarkable witness to Christian service; he had faith in the Lord, as our rock and savior.”
Regarding his marriage to his wife, Rose, who died in 1992, Msgr. Frey called their union “an incredible witness,” in the devotion they not only showed to each other, but to their disabled son, who they cared for in their home.
Dr. Iula was the beloved husband of the late Rose M. He is survived by two sons and one daughter-in-law, Frank J. and Rosemary, and John Blake; one daughter and son-in-law, Maria Celeste and Louis Bezich; three grandsons, Francis, Bradley, and Alec Iula; three sisters, Angelina Tornari, Esther (Vincent) Severino and Theresa Gentek; and a host of nieces and nephews, other relatives and many loyal patients.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Thursday, March 12, at St. Rose of Lima Parish, Haddon Heights. Interment was at Sacred Heart Cemetery, Vineland.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Autism Association of America-Southwest NJ Chapter, 10 Shadow Oak Court, NJ 08054.
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