Father Francis M. Lynch, former pastor, parish priest and high school seminary teacher, died April 11 at the Hospice of West Palm Beach, Fla. He was living in Florida in retirement. He was 83.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated April 16 at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, Astoria.

Retired Auxiliary Bishop Guy Sansaricq was the main celebrant of the funeral Mass. Special concelebrants included Auxiliary Bishop Paul R. Sanchez, Msgr. Sean G. Ogle and Fathers Joseph Pham, Paul C. Palmiotto and Donald M. Berran, who preached the homily.

“Father Lynch was a very good priest. He loved his priesthood and the people he served,” Father Berran said. “He was always social. He rooted for the underdog, and he wasn’t afraid to go against the system and stand up for what was right.”

Father Berran became friends with Father Lynch while they were students at Cathedral College 63 years ago. When Father Berran was ordained, Father Lynch preached at his first Mass and again at his 25th anniversary Mass.

Father Lynch had a great sense of humor, an appreciation for opera and enjoyed sports, particularly playing tennis, Father Berran noted.

In their younger years, they traveled to Europe, Scandinavia and Puerto Rico together. Most recently, they kept in touch on current events, family news and diocesan happenings through regular telephone calls. They last spoke the day before Father Lynch died. Those telephone calls are what Father Berran says he will miss the most.

Born in Jackson Heights, Father Lynch attended St. Joan of Arc School; Regis H.S., Manhattan; Cathedral College, Brooklyn; and Immaculate Conception Seminary, Huntington, L.I. He was ordained June 1, 1957 by Bishop John J. Boardman at St. James Pro-Cathedral, Downtown Brooklyn.

He served as an assistant at St. Charles Borromeo, Brooklyn Heights, 1957-63, and then was appointed to the faculty of Cathedral Prep Seminary, Elmhurst, where he taught until 1967.

He assisted at St. James Pro-Cathedral, 1966-67; St. Luke, Whitestone, 1967-71; Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament, Bayside, 1971-87; St. Joan of Arc, Jackson Heights, 1987-88; and Resurrection-Ascension, Rego Park, 1991-93.

He was pastor at St. Nicholas, Williamsburg, 1988-91; and at Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Astoria, 1993-2001.

He served as a member of the Priests’ Senate, from 1981 to 1983.

He resided at St. Francis of Assisi rectory, Astoria, 2002-07, before moving to Florida.

Burial was in Mount St. Mary Cemetery, Flushing.