Rev. James 'Jim' Bechtel

Obituary The Reverend James C. Bechtel, 74, Pastor Emeritus, Saint Jerome Church, Tamaqua, PA of Atlantic Beach, died Sunday, October 21, 2018 at Carteret Health Care. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday, October 26, 2018, at 11:00 AM at St. Egbert Catholic Church, Morehead City by His Excellency, The Most Reverend Luis Rafael Zarama, Bishop of Diocese of Raleigh, officiating. Private family interment will be on Wednesday, October 31, 2018, in Nesquehoning, PA. Father Bechtel was born in Palmerton, PA, on November 23, 1943, to Kenneth Eugene and Helene Klein Bechtel. He attended St. Joseph Elementary School, Jim Thorpe, PA, and graduated from Mauch Chunk High School. He attended St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, Overbrook, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy and a Masters of Divinity degree in Theology. He was ordained to the Priesthood on March 27, 1971 by the late Most Reverend Joseph M. McShea, then Bishop of Allentown, at the Cathedral of Saint Catharine of Siena, Allentown, PA. His first Pastoral Assignment was Pastor, Saint Benedict Parish, Reading; Pastor, Most Blessed Sacrament Parish, Bally; Pastor, Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish, Gordon; Pastor, Saint Nicholas Parish, Weatherly; Pastor, Saint Peter and Paul Parish, Lehighton; Pastor, Saint George Parish, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, Shenandoah; and Saint Mary Magdalen Parish, Lost Creek; Pastor, Sacred Heart Parish, Bath; and Administrator, then Pastor, Saint Jerome Parish, Tamaqua, where he served until his retirement in February of 2012. During the course of his Priestly Ministry, Father Bechtel served as Associate Professor, Allenton Central Catholic High School, Allentown; Professor, Reading Central Catholic High School, Reading; Member, Council of Priest, High School Representative; Vice Principal, Reading Central Catholic High School, Reading; Regional Coordinator, RCIA, Berks Deanery; Member, Board of Education, Berks Deanery; Member, Reading Central Catholic High School Advisory Board, Reading; President, Reading Central Catholic High School Advisory Board, Reading; Professor, Cardinal Brennan High School, Ashland; Member, Cardinal Brennan High School Budget/Audit Review Board, Ashland; Member, Cardinal Brennan High School Advisory Board, Ashland; and Chaplain Serra Club of Carbon/Schuylkill Deaneries. Father Jim is survived by his sisters, Sally Christman, and husband, Jay, of Vine Grove, KY, and Cathy Hoerner, and husband, Bob, of Schnecksville, PA, several nephews and a niece. The family will receive friends from 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM on Thursday, October 25, 2018, at St. Egbert Catholic Church, with a Christian Wake service at 7:00 PM. In addition to his parents, Father Jim is preceded in death by his brother, Robert. In lieu of flowers, the family request that memorials be made to St. Egbert Catholic Church, 1706 Evans Street, Morehead City, NC 28557. Visitation -Wake Service at 7:00 PM 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM ,Thursday, October 25, 2018 St. Egbert Catholic Church 1706 Evans Steet Morehead City, NC, Carteret 28557 Mass of Christian Burial 11:00 AM ,Friday, October 26, 2018 St. Egbert Catholic Church 1706 Evans Steet Morehead City, NC, Carteret 28557 Services You can still show your support by sending flowers directly to the family, or by planting a memorial tree in the memory of Rev. James 'Jim' Bechtel