11/27/2020

Obituary: Father Paul V. MacDonald, one-time pastor in Brockton, Weymouth and Scituate

"A fine priest," "a sincere gentleman," and "an excellent pastor" are just a few of the phrases echoed about Father Paul V. MacDonald, who died in Boston on Nov. 17, 2020. The Hub native was born on Nov. 9, 1932, one of the two sons of the late Leo and Jeannette (McDonald) MacDonald. Raised in West Roxbury, he was a product of the Boston Public Schools, attending the Henry Vane School and then the venerable Boston Public Latin School from which he graduated in 1950.

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11/20/2020

Obituary: Father Wallace E. Blackwood, former pastor in Waltham, Peabody, Essex, and Manchester by the Sea

Father Wallace E. Blackwood, a native of Newton, born there on Nov. 29, 1939, died at Regina Cleri Residence on Nov. 1, 2020. He was one of the five children of the late Wallace and Elizabeth (Gibbons) Blackwood; his siblings were sisters Elizabeth and June Coffey, and brothers Paul and Douglas. In 2014, he penned an article for The Pilot and provided a few personal biographical details.

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11/13/2020

Obituary: Father James Skehan, SJ -- with faith and science

A man of faith and science, James W. Skehan, SJ -- founder of Boston College's Geology Department, long-time director of the University's Weston Observatory, and a renowned geologist, who was honored for his contributions to earth science by the naming of a half-billion-year-old genus of trilobite after him -- died on Nov. 1 at the age of 97.

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11/27/2020

Msgr. Dennis F. Sheehan

Msgr. Dennis F. Sheehan (Nov. 20) in Newton. Funeral Mass celebrated for the son of the late Dennis and Mary (Quinn) Sheehan and brother of William and Mary, both of Marblehead. Born Sept. 30, 1938, and raised in Beverly and Marblehead, he was an alumnus of Saint John's Seminary, Brighton, and the Gregorian University, Rome, Italy. He served in several archdiocesan parishes, including Pope Saint John Seminary; The Josephinum, Worthington, Ohio; the Pontifical North American College at Rome; and several archdiocesan offices. [Ed. -- at press time, the funeral arrangements for Msgr. Sheehan were pending. His obituary will be in the Dec. 4, 2020, issue of The Pilot.]

11/27/2020

Father Geoffrey J. Deeker, CSS

Father Geoffrey J. Deeker, CSS (Nov. 2) in Dalton. Funeral Mass celebrated Nov. 9 at Saint Joseph, Pittsfield, for the son of the late Geoffrey and Margaret (Coughlan) Deeker. During 61 years of priestly ministry, Father Deeker served in various assignments of the Stigmatine Fathers and Brothers in Washington, DC; Pittsfield; Springfield; and, locally, at Sacred Heart (Italian) Parish, Waltham. Father Deeker was buried in Sacred Heart Cemetery, Milford.

11/27/2020

Father Joseph F. Krastel, CSSR

Father Joseph F. Krastel, CSSR (Nov. 22) in Annapolis, Md. Funeral Mass celebrated Dec. 1 at Saint Mary Church, Annapolis, Md., for the son of the late Alfred and Cecilia (Spahn) Krastel, and brother of Robert, Baltimore, Md. During 56 years of priestly ministry, he served in congregational assignments in Dominica; Saint Lucia; Washington, DC; Conn.; Md.; N.Y.; and, locally, at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Roxbury. Father Krastel was buried in the Redemptorist Cemetery, Annapolis, Md.

11/27/2020

Sister Catherine Saint John (Anne) Byrne, SNDdeN

Sister Catherine Saint John (Anne) Byrne, SNDdeN (Nov. 18) in Worcester. Private funeral services celebrated at Notre Dame du Lac, Worcester, for the daughter of the late Thomas and Catherine (Lane) Byrne. During 71 years of religious life, Sister Catherine Saint John served in congregational assignments in Calif.; Hawaii; N.H.; Wash.; and, locally, at Saint John the Evangelist, Beverly; Saint Mary, Boston (North End) and Saint Joseph, Boston (West End). Sister Catherine Saint John was buried in Notre Dame du Lac Cemetery, Worcester.

11/20/2020

Deacon Finley H. Chisholm

Deacon Finley H. Chisholm '86 (Nov. 16) in Lynn. Funeral Mass celebrated Nov. 20 at Saint Joseph, Lynn, for the husband of Margaret (Muise) Chisholm; and father of Eric, Beverly; Brian, Lynn; Mark, Clarksburg, W. Va.; Kevin, Navarre, Fla.; and Margaret Hansen, Marblehead. During his diaconal ministry, he served at Saint Joseph, Lynn. Committal services for Deacon Chisholm were private.

11/20/2020

Sister Doris Tardiff, SGM

Sister Doris Tardiff, SGM (Nov. 11) in Lawrence. Private funeral services celebrated at Holy Cross Cemetery, Malden, for the daughter of the late Fred and Anna (Cyr) Tardiff and sister of Sister Mary Anne Frederic Tardiff, CSC, Notre Dame, Ind. During 60 years of religious life, Sister Doris served in congregational assignments in N. Dak., and, locally, at Grey Nuns Provincial Office, Lexington, and Mary Immaculate, Lawrence. Sister Doris was buried in Holy Cross Cemetery, Malden.

11/20/2020

Sister Violanda Anthony (Violanda) Muia, RGS

Sister Violanda Anthony (Violanda) Muia, RGS (Nov. 10) in Framingham. Funeral services at Mount Benedict Cemetery, West Roxbury, for the daughter of the late Frank and Mary (Muia) Muia and sister of James, Carbondale, Penn. During 75 years of religious life, Sister Violanda served in congregational assignments in N.J.; N.Y.; and, locally, at Good Shepherd Sisters, Marlborough. Sister Violanda was buried in Mount Benedict Cemetery, West Roxbury.

11/20/2020

Sister Cynthia (Brian Michael) Noble, SC

Sister Cynthia (Brian Michael) Noble, SC (Nov. 10) in Wellesley. Funeral Mass celebrated Nov. 14 at Saint John the Evangelist, Wellesley, for the daughter of the late George and Ruth (Raftery) Noble; and sister of Katherine Triplett, Cincinnati, Ohio; Ruth, Plymouth; Mary Klotz, Sanbornville, N.H.; Ann Strapp and Christopher, both of Needham; Marilyn Gurney, Uxbridge; Elizabeth Allen, North Salem, N.Y.; Mark, South Kingston, R.I.; Robert, Norfolk; Thomas, Newbury Park, Calif.; and Brian, Franklin. During 56 years of religious life, Sister Cynthia served in congregational assignments in British Columbia; and, locally, at Saint Michael, North Andover; Saint Margaret, Dorchester; Saint Joseph, Needham; Saint Patrick, Roxbury; Holy Name, West Roxbury; and Boston College, Newton. Sister Cynthia was buried in Saint Mary Cemetery, Needham.

11/20/2020

Leonora (Glineckis) Jarvis

Leonora (Glineckis) Jarvis (Nov. 12) in Bedford. Private funeral services celebrated for the mother of Christopher, Albie, and Jeffrey, all of Bedford; and sister of Regina Alexander, Boston; and the late Sister Eugenia Glenickis, CJC. Mrs. Jarvis was buried in New Calvary Cemetery, Mattapan.

11/20/2020

William P. O'Brien

William P. O'Brien (Nov. 3) in Roslindale. Funeral Mass celebrated Nov. 9 at Sacred Heart, Roslindale, for the husband of Mary (Walsh) O'Brien; and father of William, West Roxbury; Anne Marie and Michelle Davey, both of Roslindale; Paul and Christopher, both of Milton; and brother of Sister Mary Damien, Liverpool, England; Margaret Kelly, Dorchester; and Michael, Brockton. Mr. O'Brien was buried in Saint Joseph Cemetery, West Roxbury.

11/13/2020

Gladys (Egan) Muse

Gladys (Egan) Muse (Nov. 2) in Boston. Funeral Mass celebrated Nov. 6 at Saint Mary of the Annunciation, Melrose, for the mother of John, Middleton; William, Merrimac; Daniel, Melrose; Patricia Deasy, Quincy; and James, Philadelphia, Penn; and sister of the late Sister Catherine (Mother Mary Ronald) Egan, SHCJ. Mrs. Muse was buried in Wyoming Cemetery, Melrose.

11/6/2020

Father Wallace E. Blackwood

Father Wallace E. Blackwood (Nov. 3) in Boston. Funeral Mass TBA for the son of the late Wallace and Elizabeth (Gibbons) Blackwood. Since his ordination on June 7, 1967, he served in assignments at Catholic Charities; Saint Pius Fifth, Lynn; Saint Mary, Waltham; Saint Therese of Lisieux, Everett; Immaculate Conception, Stoughton; Saint Jerome, Arlington; Our Lady, Comforter of the Afflicted, Waltham; Saint Ann, Peabody; Saint John the Baptist, Essex; and Sacred Heart, Manchester by the Sea. [Ed. -- at press time funeral arrangements for Father Wallace were still pending. His obituary will appear in a future issue of The Pilot.]

11/6/2020

Father James W. Skehan, SJ

Father James W. Skehan, SJ (Nov. 1) in Weston. Funeral Mass celebrated at Holy Spirit Chapel, Weston, for the son of the late James and Mary (Coffey) Skehan; and brother of Marie Cooney, Wareham; and the late Sister Teresa Skehan, RSM. During 66 years of priestly ministry in the Jesuit USA East Province, Father Skehan served in assignments at Weston Jesuit College, Cambridge; Boston College, Newton; and Campion Center, Weston. Father Skehan was buried in the Jesuit Cemetery, Weston.

11/6/2020

Sister Elizabeth (Mary Philothea) Blake, SMSM

Sister Elizabeth (Mary Philothea) Blake, SMSM (Oct. 27) in Framingham. Private Funeral Services celebrated at Saint Patrick Cemetery, Watertown, for the daughter of the late Michael and Honora (Maguire) Blake; and sister of Sister Miriam Blake, CSJ; Joseph; Robert; Patricia Cregg; Eileen D'Amico; and Barbara Rath, all of Brooklyn, N.Y. During 69 years of religious life, Sister Elizabeth served in congregational assignments in Australia; The Philippines; Solomon Islands; Ga.; Tenn.; Texas; and, locally, at Marist Sisters, Waltham. Sister Elizabeth was buried in Saint Patrick, Watertown.

11/6/2020

Sister Bernadette Mary (Mary) McGrath, SNDdeN

Sister Bernadette Mary (Mary) McGrath, SNDdeN (Oct. 23) in Ipswich. Funeral Mass celebrated Oct. 29 at Our Lady Queen Chapel, Ipswich, for the daughter of the late John and Margaret (McLaughlin) McGrath and sister of Hannah Blinn, Lynn. During 75 years of religious life, Sister Bernadette Mary served in congregational assignments in N.H.; R.I.; Springfield; Worcester: and, locally, at Saint Augustine, Andover; Msgr. Patterson, South Boston; Saint Mary Star of the Sea, Beverly; Saint John the Baptist, Peabody; Saint Anthony of Padua (Italian), Somerville; and Saint Thomas the Apostle, Salem. Sister Bernadette Mary also served for many years as a chaplain at Beverly Hospital, Beverly. Sister Bernadette Mary was buried in Notre Dame Cemetery, Ipswich.

11/6/2020

Margaret (McDonough) Foley

Margaret (McDonough) Foley (Oct. 31) in Boston. Funeral Mass celebrated Nov. 5 at Gate of Heaven, South Boston, for the mother of Donna Farrelly; Terrance; Patricia Crowe, Mark, and Mary O'Hara, all of South Boston; and sister of the late Sister Marie Louise, CSJ. Committal Services were private.