Fr. Michael died peacefully on Friday, November 10, 2023 at his residence in Harmarville, PA, he was 72. Fr. Michael was the founder and  Director of the Venerable Matthew Talbot Center for Addiction Recovery in Harmarville, PA from 2018-Present. One of two children, Michael was born to Walter J. and Ellen K. (Cox) Decewicz on April 21, 1951 in Pittsburgh, PA. He attended St. Joseph Elementary School (Bloomfield/Evergreen) and Monroeville Jr/Gateway High School. Michael began seminary studies for the Diocese of Pittsburgh in 1974 at Duquesne University where he obtained his Bachelor of Arts and in 1978 he earned his Masters of Divinity from St. Francis College, Loretta, PA.

Michael was ordained in to the Priesthood on September 30, 1978 by Bishop Vincent M. Leonard at St. Paul Cathedral. He was incardinated into the Diocese of Pittsburgh on September 30, 1978. Fr. Michael's first priestly assignment was Parochial Vicar at St. Bonaventure Parish (Glenshaw, PA) in 1978. From 1978 to 1992, Fr. Michael ministered in four different parishes in the Diocese of Pittsburgh: St. Bonaventure Parish in Glenshaw, PA, St. Norbert Parish, St. Margaret Parish and St. Winifred Parish, all in Pittsburgh. Fr. Michael was chaplain at Seton LaSalle Catholic High School, Pittsburgh, PA from 1990-1992. Fr. Michael served as Pastor at St. Thomas Parish in Clarksville, PA from 1992-1996, St. Bernadette Parish in Monroeville, PA from 1996-2009, Saints Peter and Paul in Beaver from 2009-2011 and at St. Juan Diego Parish in Sharpsburg, PA from 2011-2018. He was also the CCD Deanery Director from 1998-2001 and the Dean of the East Suburban Deanery from 2004-2005.

Fr. Michael also served as a Consulter for the Canonical Advisory Council and was a member of the Priest Council from 1994-1998. From 1998- 2021 he was a Chaplin for the Knights of Columbus and from 2002-2021 he was an elected member of the Priest's Benefits Plan Board. Fr. Michael later became Senior Parochial Vicar at St. Scholastica Parish in Aspinwall, PA, Saint Pio of Pietrelcina Parish in Pittsburgh, PA, St. Juan Diego Parish in Sharpsburg, PA and at Christ the King Parish in O'Hara Township from 2018-2021.

Fr. Michael was preceded in death by his parents and is survived by his sister, Maureen Cummings and her husband Brian; his niece, Kimberly Williams and her husband Todd; his niece, Carey Cummings and his nephew, Brian Cummings, Jr. and his wife Wendy. He was a great uncle to Riley, Ian "Fred" and Delaney Williams and to Jack and Kate Cummings.

Visitation will be on Thursday, November 16, 2023 from 2-8 p.m. Wake Service at 7:00 p.m. at Christ the King Parish, St. Francis of Assisi Church, 2599 Freeport Road, Harmarville, PA 15238. Visitation will also be on Friday, November 17, 2023 at 9:00 a.m. followed by the Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 a.m. at Christ the King Parish, St. Mary Church, 210 Garnier Street, Sharpsburg, PA 15215 with the Most Reverend David A. Zubik officiating. Entombment will follow at Mount Carmel Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in Fr. Michael's name to: Addiction Recovery Ministry, 2599 Freeport Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15238 or addictionrecoveryministrypittsburgh.org.