Father John J. Emerick, a Marist priest who served St. Joseph’s mission and parish in Marietta, died May 29 in St. Joseph’s Hospital. He collapsed May 26 and was admitted to the hospital’s coronary care unit suffering heart failure.

Father Emerick, who would have been 76 on June 12, was in charge of St. Joseph’s in Marietta in 1946-48 while it was still a mission of Sacred Heart Church in downtown Atlanta. He served as pastor of the Marietta parish in 1969-75. He also taught English at The Marist School from 1959 to 1967.

Father Emerick had been assigned as a parochial vicar at Our Lady of the Assumption parish since April of this year. He had undergone heart surgery about eight years ago.

He was ordained June 10, 1945 by Bishop Michael J. Keyes, SM, retired bishop of Savannah, in the Marist College Chapel in Washington, D.C.

A vigil service was held May 30 at Our Lady of the Assumption Church. The funeral Mass was held June 2 at St. Anthony’s Church in Washington, D.C. Burial was in Mount Olivet Cemetery.

Father Emerick is survived by six sisters and nieces and nephews. He was born in St. Clair, Pa., son of Peter and Eleanore Yastrab Emerick.