Fr. Charles Edmund Lane 1934-2022

Fr. Edmund was born in Taos, N.M., on Dec. 12, 1934, to parents Charles and Alice Michaud, the first of three children, a brother and two sisters. He entered the community of Canfield on Jan. 11, 1959. In the same community, he began his Novitiate on Sept. 7, 1959, and made his First Profession on Sept. 8, of the following year, taking the name of Edmund, and Perpetual Profession on Sept. 8, 1963, in Rome, where he was ordained a priest on June 30, 1964.

Fr. Edmund began his apostolic adventure in the Staten Island community in 1965 as the editorial director of Alba House publishing house — a commitment that he will carry on for more than 30 years — director of the local bookstore and master of postulants and juniors. In 1973, he was transferred to the community of Dearborn with the position of superior, continuing his apostolic commitment in the publishing house, in the bookstore and overseeing the distribution in various parishes. In 1979, we find him in the Canfield community, of which he will be superior the following year. Negotiations with the diocese began with him for their project of Catholic Television Network of Youngstown. In 1983, he returned to Staten Island, always involved in the publishing house. From 2006 to 2010 he was provincial vicar.

One aspect of Fr. Charles’s life was his routine. The day started very early, at 4 a.m., celebrating Mass alone. Immediately afterwards, he took care of the emails and news concerning the congregation. This appointment made him very well informed and he loved to inform the community at the beginning of the community Mass.

Also interesting were his homilies — prepared well in advance — which, as many people recall, were very “direct,” without many discussions and comments.

A year ago, in the month of June, Fr. Edmund suffered repeated falls with serious consequences to the head. Hospitalized in July, he never returned to the community.

Considering all his commitment in the publishing field, we can understand what Blessed Alberione told us about this apostolate and that we read in the Pauline Agenda of Tuesday, Feb. 22: “Let it be understood that the reading of the Holy Books is important and recommended by the church, because they are written by God for everyone and everyone needs them … Everyone in the Holy Books, finds the good word that suits them and makes them better.

“May the Lord welcome and grant eternal peace to this dear brother of ours. May he now intercede with the Divine Master for the quality and effectiveness of Pauline publishing activities in the world and for young people to discover the beauty of our mission in the United States.”

He will be waked in the chapel at St. Paul Monastery, 9531 Akron-Canfield Road, Canfield, from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 25, 2022, with a rosary at 7:30 p.m.

The funeral will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022, at the St. Paul Monastery Canfield community chapel. Fr. Edmund will then be buried in the local community cemetery.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Edward J. Fox and Sons Funeral Home, 4700 Market St., Boardman, OH 44512.

Family and friends of may visit www.foxfuneralhome.org to view this obituary and to leave condolences for the family.

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