A display table with Father John Corona's hat and photos from his life.
Hundreds attended a Mass of Resurrection for Father John Corona on what would have been his 92nd birthday Friday at St. Gall Catholic Church.
Born the youngest of five children on May 9, 1933, in Wappingers Falls, N.Y., to Italian immigrants John and Emma Renzi Corona, Corona died March 26, 2025. He was very proud of his Italian heritage.
Arriving in Carson Valley in 1977, he served the parish for 22 years before his retirement in 1999. It was under his leadership, that the parish acquired 11 acres of property and parishioners built a new church in 1984 to accommodate the fast-growing congregation. Several years later, a 22,000-square-foot pastoral center was added.
“He was a wonderful man,”
Corona’s father died when he was 7 and one of his fondest memories was working in the family-owned grocery store with his mother and siblings.
He received a bachelors of business administration in 1955 from Siena College in Albany.
He served in the U.S. Army for two years as a chaplain’s assistant with the Third Armored Division and worked at IBM for nine years in Poughkeepsie and outside Harrison, N.Y.
In 1967, he entered Blessed John XXIII Seminary in Weston, Mass., where he earned a master’s degree in theology.
While at Blessed John XXIII Seminary, Corona felt he wanted to join a diocese that really needed priests. After communication with Bishop Joseph Green he committed to serve in the Diocese of Reno.
He was ordained May 8, 1971, by Bishop Green at his home parish of St. Mary’s in Wappingers Falls, and presided at his first Mass the next day, May 9, on his 38th birthday.
Following his ordination, he was assigned to St. Christopher’s Parish in North Las Vegas.
“I hardly knew anyone,” he said, “but told myself, ‘Yes, this is my life now.’”
He was named pastor within two years.
After six years in North Las Vegas, Bishop Norman McFarland assigned Corona to St. Gall in Gardnerville in July 1977.
One of his fondest memories was driving in a U-Haul with his friend, Father Dan Keelan, and entering the Carson Valley for the first time.
Corona remained at St. Gall until his retirement in 1999, but continued to make his home in Minden.
He said he never regretted coming to Nevada. He always found the folks to be friendly, loving, and gracious. Naturally, he was partial to the people of the parishes he served.
As a retired priest, Corona filled in at parishes in Northern Nevada and worked for the diocese in various capacities.
In October 2011, Father John was selected as one of the 150 most influential people in Douglas County history in 150 years.
He enjoyed traveling with family members and visiting relatives and friends across the United States.
Former Record-Courier staffer Sheila Gardner interviewed Father John Corona and wrote the majority of this piece. Editor Kurt Hildebrand updated it after Friday’s service.