Sept. 10, 2014

Watertown - Bishop Terry R. LaValley celebrated a Mass of Christian Burial for Rev. Theodore M. (Ted) Gillette, 61, Sept. 4 at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Church.

He died at Buffalo General Hospital Aug. 30, due to complications with pneumonia.  Burial Was in Glenwood Cemetery.

He was born on September 16, 1952 in Watertown, the son of Donald and Veronica (Weston) Gillette.  Both his parents are now deceased.   He attended Sacred Heart Elementary and Immaculate Heart Central High School in Watertown. 

After high school Rev. Gillette attended Wadhams Hall Seminary College in Ogdensburg and then Christ the King Seminary in East Aurora, New York graduating in 1977. 

He was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Stanislaus J. Brzana at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Ogdensburg on May 6, 1978. 

Following ordination, Rev. Gillette was assigned in 1978 as assistant pastor to St. John the Baptist Church in Keeseville and then later that year as assistant to Holy Name Church in Ausable Forks until 1981. 

He then served as associate pastor at St. Bernard’s Church in Saranac Lake until 1983 and as associate to Notre Dame Church in Ogdensburg until 1987 when he was named pastor of St. Cecilia’s Church in Adams. 

This was followed by a brief period of service at St. Augustine’s Church in Peru before being named administrator of St. Hubert’s Church in Star Lake in 1988. 

In 1993 he was named pastor of St. Raphael’s Church in Heuvelton followed by an assignment as pastor of St. Paul’s Church in Black River before he resigned from active ministry in 2002.

Rev. Gillette is survived by his siblings:  William and Doris Gillette of Maryland; Terry and Gail Gillette of Chaumont; Suzanne Gillette of Watertown; Cathy and Bruce Mothersell of Lacona, New York; and Randy and Debbie Gillette of Watertown. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews.