The funeral Mass for Richard E. Machan, permanent deacon at St. Bernadette’s Church in Cedartown, was held Tuesday, May 24, at the First Methodist church in Cedartown.

Mr. Machan, 76, died May 21 in Redmond Park Hospital, Rome, where he had been hospitalized since suffering a stroke on May 7. He had undergone heart surgery March 15 and had returned to work May 3.

A wake service for Deacon Machan was held Monday night, May 23, at St. Bernadette’s with Father Pat Bishop, former pastor, officiating. The parish church was not large enough to accommodate the people at the Mass.

Father Dan Stack, St. Bernadette pastor, celebrated the funeral Mass. Don Comeau, permanent deacon who also serves the parish, was on the altar.

The readings were given by clergy members of the Cedartown Ministerial Association in which Deacon Machan was active. Taking part were Dr. Jerry Mahan, pastor of First Baptist; Rev. Hazel Glover, St. James Episcopal, the Rev. Delton Harne, Church of God, the Rev. Clyde Smith, First Methodist, and Deacon Comeau.

Burial was in Polk Memory Gardens, Cedartown.

Deacon Machan was available to do whatever he could to serve his parish, was active in the ministerial association and worked with Samaritan House, an ecumenical outreach to the poor. He was ordained a deacon in 1987.

He also served as a bailiff at the Polk County Courthouse.

His wife, Marjorie Becker Machan, died five years ago. They had been married since 1942. He is survived by a son, Richard Machan, Norcross, and three daughters, Sandra Jean Machan, Cedartown; Carol Ann McMurray, Duluth, and Mary Katherine Hampton, Peachtree City. There are six grandchildren. He is also survived by a sister, Pat Bennett of Elyria, Ohio. He was a native of New Richmond, Ind.