Father Thomas P. Kelly, a priest of the archdiocese since his ordination on May 23, 1970, by Auxiliary Bishop Jeremiah F. Minihan at Holy Cross Cathedral, died at his home in Dennis on Oct. 24, 2025. He had been living there since his being granted senior priest/ retirement status on June 1, 2016.
Read moreA proud native son of the archdiocese, Father John Joseph (Aquinas) Farren, OP, died at Rosary Hill Home, Hawthorne, New York, on Oct. 21, 2025, where he had been residing since early September. Born in Medford on April 28, 1938, he was the son of the late Neil and Mary (Cavanaugh) Farren. He attended the Hillside School there for a few years until he entered St. John the Evangelist elementary and high schools in nearby Cambridge. There, the faculty were the Dominican Sisters of St. Catharine, Kentucky, and they were a strong influence on his vocational choice to enter the Order of Preachers.
Read moreLynn native Father Philip J. DesRosiers died at St. Patrick Manor, Framingham, on Oct. 12. He had been residing there for the past 18 months, since he and his sister, Lorraine Cronin, had moved from their home in Lynn to the extended care facility of the Carmelite Sisters of the Aged and Infirm in Framingham.
Read moreFather Stephen A. Vasek, OMI (Oct. 25) in Tewksbury. Funeral Mass celebrated Oct. 31 at Immaculate Heart of Mary Chapel, Tewksbury, for the son of the late Anthony and Lorraine (Koca) Vasek, and brother of Barbara Madura, Grand Rapids, Mich. During 54 years of priestly ministry, Father Vasek served in assignments of the Missionary Oblates of the Virgin Mary in Washington, D.C.; Ky.; Mich.; N.Y.; and, locally, at Immaculate Heart of Mary Residence, Tewksbury. Father Vasek was buried in Immaculate Heart of Mary Cemetery, Tewksbury.
Brother Peter (Neil) Mahoney, CFX (Oct. 24) in Louisville, Ky. Funeral Services celebrated Oct. 31 at Xaverian Cemetery, Louisville, Ky., for the son of the late Thomas and Irene (Lennon) Mahoney and brother of Thomas, Austin, Texas; and Irene deGrondpre, New York, N.Y. During 74 years of religious life, Brother Peter served in assignments of the Xaverian Brothers in Washington, D.C.; Ind.; Ky.; Va.; and, locally, at Saint Joseph Juniorate, Peabody. Brother Peter was buried in Xavierian Cemetery, Louisville, Ky.
Sister Immaculata Marie (Mary) McDonnell, SNDdeN (Oct. 28) in Ipswich. Funeral Mass celebrated Nov. 4 at Our Lady Queen Chapel, Ipswich, for the daughter of the late Thomas and Mary (Moran) McDonnell, and sister of the late Msgr. Thomas J. McDonnell. During 78 years of religious life, Sister Immaculate Marie served in congregational assignments in Rhode Island, Worcester, and locally, at Saint Joseph, Somerville; Blessed Sacrament, Cambridge; Cardinal Cushing High School, South Boston; Saint Gregory, Dorchester; Notre Dame academy, Hingham; and Notre Dame Learning Center, Somerville. Sister Immaculate Marie was buried in Notre Dame Cemetery, Ipswich.
Maureen (Flaherty) Lovett (Oct. 10) in Arlington. Funeral Mass celebrated Oct. 17 at Saint Camillus Church, Arlington, for the mother of Joan Toomey, Mary DiPietro, Eileen, Kathleen Fusco, Annmarie Archer, Charles, and Erin Travassos, all of Arlington; and sister of Sister Mary Timothy Flaherty, RSM, Bridie Dromey, Alec O'Conhir, and Margaret Flaherty, all of Kerry, Ireland. Mrs. Lovett was buried in Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Arlington.
James R. Loud (Oct. 14) in Lynn. Funeral Mass celebrated Oct. 28 at Saint Pius Fifth Church, Lynn, for the father of Jamie and Jessica Ayer, both of Lynn; and brother of Sister Barbara (Joseph Lorraine) Loud, CSJ, Brighton; and William and Ruth Auger, both of Lynn. Mr. Loud was buried in Pine Grove Cemetery, Lynn.
Virginia (Darcy) Oliver (Oct. 13) in Bay Shore, N.Y. Funeral Mass celebrated Oct. 21 at Saint Patrick Church, Bay Shore, N.Y., for the mother of Msgr. Robert W. Oliver, judicial vicar of the archdiocese; and Kevin, Bay Shore, N.Y. Mrs. Oliver was buried in Saint Patrick Cemetery, Bay Shore, N.Y.
Father Alfred J. Hicks, SJ (Oct. 15) in Weston. Funeral Mass celebrated Oct.21 at Holy Spirit Chapel, Weston, for the son of the late Gerard and Helena (Callahan) Hicks. During 59 years of priestly ministry in the Society of Jesus, Father Weston served in assignments of the United East Province of the Jesuits in Iraq; Ireland; Jordan; Conn.; N.H.; N.Y.; Lenox; and, locally, at Weston College, Weston; Boston College High School and Nativity Preparatory School, both in Boston; and Campion Center, Weston. Father Hicks was buried in the Jesuit Cemetery, Weston.
Father Thomas P. McDonnell, SJ (Oct. 2) in Weston. Funeral Mass celebrated Oct. 13 at Holy Spirit Chapel, Weston, for the son of the late Thomas and Ann (Ward) McDonnell, and brother of Gerard, Palm Coast, Fla. During 57 years of priestly ministry, Father McDonnell served in various assignments of the former Maryland Province of the Society of Jesus in Calif.; Md.; N. Car.; N.Y.; Penn.; and Va. Father McDonnell was buried in the Jesuit Cemetery, Weston.
Cheryl (Christie) Kerns (Oct. 8) in Burlington. Funeral Mass celebrated Oct. 14 at Saint Barbara Church, Woburn, for the wife of Deacon William E. Kerns, Burlington; and mother of William and Darlene Abreu, both of Woburn; Deanna Allard, Groton; and Dara, Wilmington; and sister of Janice Sharkey, Albany, N.Y.; and Gary Christie, Concord, N.H. Mrs. Kerns was buried in Saint Patrick Cemetery, Stoneham.
Father Joseph F. Burke, SJ (Sept. 24) in Weston. Funeral Mass celebrated Sept. 30 at Holy Spirit Chapel, Weston, for the son of the late Joseph and Ellen (Kerans) Burke. During 47 years of priestly ministry in the Jesuits, Father Burke served in various assignments of the former New York Province of the Society of Jesus. Father Burke was buried in the Jesuit Cemetery, Auriesville, N.Y.
Father Edward J. Galvin, SMA (Sept. 27) in Tenafly, N.J. Funeral Mass celebrated Oct. 1 at Society of the African Missions Chapel, Tenafly, N.J., for the son of the late Edward and Helen (Hennessey) Galvin. During 63 years of priestly ministry, Father Galvin, a Lynnfield native, served in assignments of the African Mission Fathers in Argentina; Liberia; Nigeria; Washington, D.C.; Calif.; Fla.; N.J.; and, locally, at Our Lady of the Apostles Seminary, Dedham; and Boston College, Newton. Father Galvin was buried in Mount Carmel Cemetery, Tenafly, N.J.
Father Gerard J. Szymkowiak, CSsR (Oct. 3) in Timonium, Md. Funeral Mass celebrated Oct. 9 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, Ephrata, Penn., for the son of the late John and Angela (Cichowicz) Szymkowiak. During 57 years of priestly ministry, Father Szymkowiak served in assignments of the Redemptorist Fathers and Brothers in Md.; Ohio; Penn.; and, locally, at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, Boston. Father Szymkowiak was buried in Saint Clement Mission House Cemetery, Ephrata, Penn.
Brother Richard Philip Revell, CFX (Oct. 5) in Danvers. Funeral Mass celebrated Oct. 11 at Saint Richard of Chichester Church, Danvers, for the son of Mary (Keane) Revell, Glossop, Derbyshire, England, and the late Richard; and brother of Michael, Paul, and Stephen of Manchester, England. During 46 years of religious life, Brother Richard served in congregational assignments in the Congo; Great Britain; Calif.; Conn.; and, locally, at Xaverian House, Danvers. Brother Philip was buried in the Xaverian Cemetery, Danvers.
David L. Earley (Oct. 2) in Swampscott. Funeral Mass celebrated Oct. 8 at Saint John the Evangelist Church, Chelmsford, for the father of Christine Howard, Chelmsford, and David, Bethesda, Md.; and brother of Father Philip B. Earley, Laconia, N.H.; and Richard and Susan both of Chelmsford. Mr. Earley was buried in Saint Joseph Cemetery, Chelmsford.
Joseph J. McGuirk (Oct. 3) in Cambridge. Private services celebrated Oct.14 for the father of Joseph, Cambridge; and brother of Sister Christine Julie (Ann) McGuirk, SNDdeN, Worcester; and Mary Ellen, Cambridge. Committal services were private.
Eileen (Reilly) Rayne (Oct. 4) in Quincy. Funeral Mass celebrated Oct. 10 at Saint Ann Church, Quincy, for the mother of Michael, Quincy; Kim Moran, Pembroke; James, Westport; and Stephen, Rockland; and sister of Patricia Clifford, Braintree, and the late Father Thomas J. Reilly. Mrs. Rayne was buried in Pine Hill Cemetery, Quincy.