REST IN PEACE
Stephen John Woodstock Served the Archdiocese of Newark as substance abuse counselor, campus minister at Seton Hall University, 79 Stephen John Woodstock, 79, of New Providence, N.J., entered into eternal rest on Thursday, July 26, 2018. Relatives and friends are kindly invited to the funeral from the Walter Johnson Funeral Home, 803 Raritan Rd., Clark, N.J., on Monday, July 30, at 10:30 a.m., thence to St. Helen's Church, Westfield, N.J., where a Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 11:30 a.m. Final disposition will be private. Visiting hours will be on Sunday from 2 to 6 p.m. To offer condolences, please visit walterjohnsonfh.com Stephen was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. on Dec. 26, 1938 to Mary and John Woodstock. Raised in Hoboken, N.J., he graduated from Dickerson High School in 1961 before entering the Archdiocese of Newark, Diocesan Seminary, at Darlington, N.J. He received his B.A. from Seton Hall University in 1965 and was ordained to active ministry for the Archdiocese of Newark. Stephen spent most of his priesthood serving the poor and disenfranchised of the city of Newark at St. Charles Borromeo Parish throughout the stormy days of the Newark riots. He was the heart and soul of St. Charles Parish, bringing it back to new life. Stephen was assigned as campus minister at Seton Hall University, where he engaged and became counselor and friend to many of the students.
His professional life was dedicated to serving the patients at alcohol and drug clinics of New Jersey, Elizabeth General, Fair Oaks, and Mountainside Hospital of Montclair, N.J., from where he retired in 2001 due to the onset of Parkinson disease. He is survived by his beloved wife, Maryellen Woodstock, and two children, Christopher and Caitlyn Woodstock. He is also survived by his brother, Tom; sister, Elizabeth Hanbury, and many nieces and nephews. Stephen's strength, courage, and deep faith have been an incredible gift and inspiration to his family, community, and friends. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in his memory to St. Joseph Social Service Center, 812 Rebecca Place, Elizabeth, N.J. 07201.
ADDITION
Steve was a one year ahead of me at the Immaculate Conception Seminary, Darlington, NJ for the Archdiocese of Newark.
Ordained in 1965, he was assigned to a downtown Newark church shortly before the riots of 1967,68 rocked the city and our country. Steve worked for the poor and disenfranchised of the city of Newark for 13 thirteen years as a pastoral associate.
When he transitioned to the married state, he became the Director of Outpatient Addiction Services in Mountainside Hospital, Montclair, NJ. His wife Maryellen spoke eloquently about him at the funeral held at St. Helen's Church in Westfield, NJ. Steve was known to me as a strong but humble person who certainly addressed the pastoral problems of his people. And even after resigning his clerical position continued to minister to people with all sorts of addictions.
Eternal rest to you Steve and to all the priests who continued their ministry outside of their clerical assignments.
Carroll Mrowicki