STEUBENVILLE — During Tuesday’s funeral Mass for retired Bishop Gilbert Sheldon, Monsignor Roger Foys shared a powerful memory: “He loved God, he loved the church, he loved his family, he loved his ministry and he loved the diocese.”

Foys told those who had gathered at Holy Rosary Catholic Church that upon Sheldon’s retirement as bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Steubenville in 2002 he asked his friend if he would return to his hometown of Cleveland, and he replied he would remain in Steubenville.

“He embraced the Diocese of Steubenville as his home,” said Foys, who added Sheldon was like a father to its many parishioners and as such, would not abandon them.

A World War II Air Force veteran, Sheldon was ordained to the priesthood in 1943. His more than 70 years of ministry included service as associate pastor of St. Rose, St. Clare and Sts. Philip and James in Cleveland; diocesan director and national board member of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith, a role that involved travel to 23 countries on five continents; chaplain of Magnificat High School, pastor of Sacred Heart; and episcopal vicar for Lorain County, among other roles.

Ordained a bishop in 1976, he served as auxiliary bishop for the Diocese of Cleveland and vicar for marriage and family concerns, vicar for Summit County and vicar for the Southern Region before being installed as the third bishop of the Diocese of Steubenville on April 2, 1992.

Sheldon also served on the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ committees for Latin America; administration, missions and nominations and the National Advisory Council; and as a board member of the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus.

An active community member in Cleveland and Steubenville, Sheldon was a member of the Knights of Columbus, Serra Club, Order of Alhambra, Catholic War Veterans, American Legion and Rotary.

Foys served as a parish priest and as vicar general for the Diocese of Steubenville before becoming bishop of the Diocese of Covington in Kentucky.

He said during a 31-year period, a professional relationship and close friendship developed between him and Sheldon, whom he considered “a father, friend, guide, mentor and confidant.”

Dealing with his own health issues, Foys revealed he was released from the hospital on Monday on the condition that he return immediately following the Mass.

“I said I’ll crawl back if I have to,” he said.

Foys said during a phone call following Sheldon’s retirement, he asked his friend how he was.

“He said, ‘It’s a tough thing to wake up in the morning and realize you don’t have anything to do,'” he recalled.

But Foys noted Sheldon found much to do, even in retirement.

The retired bishop turned his attention to serving on the Diocesan Tribunal and the board of advisers at the Franciscan University of Steubenville and writing biweekly articles for the Steubenville Register, the diocese’s newspaper.

“Psalm 90 tells us the sum of our years is 70, 80 if we are strong. The bishop beat the odds,” Foys said of Sheldon, who was 96 when he died on April 24.

Foys said late in his life, Sheldon used his faith in God to help him take on a loss of health and independence.

“His faith is what kept him going, I truly believe that,” he said. “He taught me a lot, how to live and how to die, and I’ll be forever grateful.”

Foys said Sheldon was grateful, in those days, for the care of the Brothers of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and others.

Scripture readings for the Mass included the passage from John in which Jesus Christ raised Lazarus from the dead.

Foys noted following that act, Jesus Christ said, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me will live, even though he dies.”

He alluded to another Scripture reading for the service, from 2 Corinthians, which compares people’s earthly bodies to a tent, a temporary dwelling to be replaced by a permanent home built by God for the afterlife.

“There is something after this life,” said Foys, who noted faith in God, as well as respect and love for Sheldon and his ministry, brought everyone together for the Mass.

“Faith can’t be seen or touched, but it’s there, in our hearts,” he said.