Granby Obituary: Rev. Ronald Yelle, 81

Rev. Ronald Richard Yelle, 81, of Belchertown, MA, retired Pastor of St. Therese Church in Granby, passed away on the Feast of the Archangels, Thursday, September 29, 2016 in Wilbraham, MA.

Born in Ludlow, MA on April 9, 1935, son of the late Henry and Rita (Lambert) Yelle, he was raised in Indian Orchard, MA and had lived in Enfield for many years before entering the seminary. Rev. Yelle was a graduate of Don Bosco College Seminary in Newton, NJ and later attended Glastonbury Latin School in Bennet Lake, Wisconsin which was part of the Benedictine Fathers at St. Benedict Abbey.

He left Wisconsin and pursued a career in banking for many years rising to the level of Vice President at Enfield Federal Savings. He was ordained as a Permanent Deacon in 1973, and once again pursued his vocation, entering Christ the King Seminary in East Aurora, NY. He graduated in 1979 and was Ordained to the Priesthood in the Archdiocese of Hartford in October, 1979 at St. Martha's Church in Enfield by Archbishop John Francis Whealon.

Fr. Yelle served the Archdiocese of Hartford for over 31 years serving at St. Margaret Church in Madison, St. Gregory Church in Bristol, St. Francis Church in Torrington, St. Vincent de Paul in East Haven, and his last parish St. Therese Church in Granby where he served as Pastor from 1993-2008.

Fr. Yelle remained active in retirement serving on the Priest's Retirement Plan Board since 2008 and assisting at Mass at Christ the King Church in Ludlow, MA. He was an honorary life member of the Knights of Columbus, Bishop John J. Nilan Council #2758 in Tariffville and an honorary life member of Bishop McMahon, Assembly #105, Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus.

He leaves his sister-in-law, Gail A. Yelle of Ludlow, MA; a niece, Bonny Monkiewicz and her husband Steven of Montgomery, MA; a nephew, Donald P. Yelle, Jr. of West Warren, MA; and four great nieces and nephews, Chelsie Gemme and her husband Seth Gemme, MD of Uxbridge, MA, Colin Monkiewicz of Montgomery, MA, Heather Yelle and Melissa Yelle both of West Warren, MA. Besides his parents, he was predeceased by his twin brother, Donald P. Yelle.

His family will receive friends on Tuesday, October 4, 4-7 p.m., at St. Therese Church, 120 West Granby Rd., (Route 20), Granby, followed by a Parish Mass at 7 p.m., with The Rev. Thomas E. Ptaszynski, Pastor of St. Therese Church as the Principal Celebrant. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, October 5, 11 a.m., at St. Therese Church, with The Most Reverend Leonard P. Blair, Archbishop of Hartford as the Principal Celebrant. Burial will be private in St. Aloysius Cemetery, Springfield, MA.

The family has requested that memorial contributions be made to St. Therese Church, 120 West Granby Rd., Granby, CT 06035.

The family would like to extend a special thanks to the nurses and staff at Life Care Center of Wilbraham for all of their care and support.