West Chazy, NY - A Memorial Mass for Father Theodore A. Crosby will be celebrated at St. Joseph's Church in West Chazy at 11 a.m. on Friday, March 27th, celebrated by Bishop Terry R. LaValley, Bishop of the Diocese of Ogdensburg. Father Scott Seymour will serve as homilist. The Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated in his hometown on Monday, March 16th, at 10 a.m. at St. Francis Church in Phelps, N.Y. Father Crosby died March 10, 2026, in West Chazy. He was 55.

Born March 12, 1970, in Clifton Springs, he was the son of Theodore M. and Margaret A. (Maslyn) Crosby. He was baptized at St. Francis Church in Phelps on March 29, 1970. He grew up in the Phelps area and remained connected to his family throughout his life.

Father Crosby graduated from St. John Fisher College in Rochester in 1992. He spent a year discerning with the Redemptorists as a postulant while studying at St. John's University from 1994 to 1995. He later attended Wadhams Hall Seminary-College for Pre-Theology followed by Christ the King Seminary in East Aurora, where he earned a Master of Divinity in 2000.

He was ordained to the priesthood on Aug. 12, 2000, by Bishop Gerald M. Barbarito at St. Mary's Cathedral in Ogdensburg.

Following ordination, Father Crosby served as parochial vicar at Holy Family Church in Watertown from 2000 to 2004, and then at St. Peter's Church in Lowville, St. Hedwig's Church in Houseville, St. Thomas Church in Greig, and St. Mary's Church in Glenfield. In 2006 he began ministry in Malone, serving across St. Joseph's, St. Helen's, Notre Dame, and St. John Bosco parishes.

In 2007, he became administrator and later pastor of St. Michael's Church in Standish and St. Bernard's Church in Lyon Mountain. He also provided sacramental ministry as a volunteer chaplain at the Lyon Mountain Correctional Facility. Beginning in 2010, he also served as administrator and later pastor of St. Edmund's in Ellenburg Center. In 2016, he was appointed pastor of St. Joseph's Church in West Chazy and Sacred Heart Church in Chazy, where he ministered faithfully until his death.

He was predeceased by his parents, and he is survived by his sister, Tammy Crosby.

Father Crosby's priestly life was marked by love for the Eucharist, the Mass and Mary, the Mother of God. He once advised, "Mary told the angel at the Annunciation, 'Be it done unto me according to your word.' God was able to entrust such a great vocation to Mary because she never let herself get in God's way." He tried hard not to let himself get in God's way, embracing a life of steadiness, humility, curiosity and simplicity.

He had a lifelong love of history, especially Civil War and Lincoln-era history.

Father Crosby is survived by his sister Tammy of Phelps, his aunts Joanne Maslyn of Farmington, Betty Gordner of Seneca Castle and Jane Crosby of Geneva and many cousins. He is predeceased by his parents.

Parishioners across his assignments will remember his generosity, his engaging homilies and his pastoral care.