Haber, Edward A., Rev.
(Nov. 2, 1930 - Dec. 19, 2007)Edward A. Haber was born and raised in Elizabeth, New Jersey. His parents, Edward W. Haber, a handyman with Standard Oil Company, and Hedwig Bielawski, were born to Polish immigrants and lived with Alexander and Mary Bielawski in the first years of their marriage.
The grandson completed his studies for the priesthood at Immaculate Conception Seminary, Mahway, and was ordained May 31, 1958. He was sent to assist Father Paul Knappek, who organized St. Casimir's parish in 1909 to serve the Polish speaking people in the Ironbound section of Newark. After fire destroyed the first edifice, the parish built one of the most beautiful churches in New Jersey. Ironbound, however, still had too many saloons. It had 122 in 1912. In the 1970s, there was a great influx of Portuguese families.
In 1979, long after the incredible Martha Stewart was raised in Nutley, once the northeast corner of Newark, New Jersey, Father Haber succeeded the pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel R.C. Church in the same city, Father Henry Juncewicz, who died in January of the same year, and found no reason to continue three Polish masses on Sunday. He discontinued two of them.
Rev. Juncewicz maintained that the little church of forty pews, built in 1950 to accommodate 230 persons, was only for Polish parishioners. Father Haber, however, accepted Italian, Irish, Vietnamese, Filipino and other families, and despite their roots, he celebrated Polish services and observed Polish customs. By 1996 the parish had over 600 parishioners.
He also served as pastor of St. Valentine's R.C. Church, Bloomfield, and chaplain of Trinitas Hospital, Elizabeth, where he died. After services at St. Adalbert's R. C. Church at Elizabeth, he was buried at Mount Calvary Cemetery, Linden.
From: Edward Pinkowski (2009)