A Mass of Christian Burial for Marianist Brother Joseph Spehar was celebrated Sept. 22 at Queen of Apostles Chapel in Dayton. Brother Joseph, 85, died Sept. 10. He had been a Marianist for 68 years.

Brother Joseph was a native of Pittsburgh, Pa. He attended North Catholic High School in Pittsburgh and entered the postulate in 1942. He entered the novitiate the following year and professed first vows on Aug. 22, 1944.

After earning a bachelor’s degree from the University of Dayton in 1947, Brother Joseph taught at the now-closed Cathedral Latin School in Cleveland, Ohio, until 1960. While serving there, he professed perpetual vows as a Marianist brother on Aug, 17, 1950, in Dayton. Brother Joseph taught mathematics courses and coached the speech and debate team. After earning a master’s degree in mathematics from the Ohio State University in 1958, he served as assistant principal of Cathedral Latin.

Brother Joseph went on to serve at the former Chaminade High School in Dayton. Between 1971 and 1986, he served at Covington High School in Covington, Ky., and the former Purcell High School in Cincinnati.

When Brother Joseph retired from teaching in 1986, his interest in prayer groups led him to co-founded the Lighthouse Community with Franciscan Sister of the Poor Christine Edwards. Lighthouse serves lay people in the Cincinnati area through healing and evangelization.

Interment was at Queen of Heaven Cemetery, Mount St. John, in Dayton.