Obituary of Rev. James E. Borstelmann

Rev. James E. Borstelmann, 84, passed away on Sunday December 28, 2025 surrounded by friends and family. Born June 27, 1941, he was the beloved son of the late Fred and Frances (Leonard) Borstelmann.

Father Jim was ordained to the priesthood on May 27, 1967 at St. Patrick's Cathedral. He served in many parishes and loved connecting with everyone: St. Catharine, Blauvelt, NY; St. John, Kingsbridge, Bronx, NY; St. Joseph, Bronxville, NY and St. Brendan, Bronx, NY. He was pastor at St. Joseph, Croton Falls, NY and St. Colman, E. Kingston, NY. In addition, he was a chaplain at Rockland State Hospital while he was in Blauvelt and also at Bronx Developmental Center for 40 years.

Because of their love of bringing people together and their adventurous spirit of travel, he and Sr. Mary Mazza started the Celtic Rovers Travel Club which connected people across the globe and gave them an experience and appreciation of different cultures and lands. After his active parish ministry, Fr. Jim served a three-year ministry term with Food for the Poor and traveled to various US Catholic churches on their behalf. In 2018, he and Sr. Mary began an outreach ministry, Beyond Church Walls, to welcome those searching for God and community.

Father Jim is survived by his best friend, Sister Mary Mazza, CND, his sister Jean Talbot, his brother-in-law Joseph Talbot and his sister-in-law Joan Borstelmann. He is also survived by his nieces and nephews: Robert Borstelmann, Eugene Borstelmann, Mark Borstelmann, Rose Starin, Gregory Borstelmann, Karen Crawford, Colleen Jacques, Christian Talbot, Kate Larson, Carole Schulze, Joseph Miele, Marie Miele, Ginny Miele Carlino, and Michael Miele.

In addition to his parents, Father Jim was pre-deceased by siblings Richard Borstelmann, Ann Miele, Robert Borstelmann, his siblings in law Kathleen Borstelmann and Joseph Miele, and nephews Joseph Borstelmann, Kevin Borstelmann, Stephen Borstelmann, Lawrence Borstelmann and James Borstelmann.

Friends will be received at St. Colman's Church, East Kingston on Monday January 5th from 2-4 PM and on Tuesday January 6th from 11 AM to 12:15 PM at St. Joseph's Church, 95 Plum Brook Road, Somers, NY 10589. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 12:30 PM at St. Joseph's Church after the visitation.. The Mass will be live streamed. Please go to the Parish website at www.stjosephsomers.org. Click on Parish You Tube Channel in the upper left corner and click again in middle of next screen. Burial will follow in St. Joseph's Cemetery.

Funeral arrangements are under the guidance of the Joseph V. Leahy Funeral Home, Inc. 27 Smith Avenue, Kingston and Clark Associates Funeral Home, 4 Woods Bridge Road, Katonah.»(Do not delete this line. It does not print.  Text that is to appear on web must be entered before this line)