Father Maurice J. O'Connor, who retired from his leadership of Our Lady of the Rosary Parish in Stoughton on Nov. 16, 2003, died at Marian Manor in Taunton on Dec. 15, 2020. Born in Boston on Oct. 8, 1928, Father O'Connor was raised in Cambridge's St. John the Evangelist Parish. His parents were the late Maurice and Mary (Mitchell) O'Connor. He attended local schools before entering St. John Seminary at Brighton.
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Father Leo G. Cormier, a priest of the archdiocese since his ordination on Feb. 2, 1957, died at Lowell General Hospital on Dec. 15, 2020, 15 days shy of his 90th birthday. Father Cormier was born in Lowell and was one of the 11 children of the late Edward and Emilie (Allard) Cormier. His family had roots in Marlborough, where his parents were married. Having moved to Lowell, the family grew in a largely French Canadian neighborhood in St. Jeanne D'Arc parish (French).
Read moreSister Stephen Marie (Juliana) Barney, CJC (Jan. 9) in Brockton. Funeral Mass celebrated at Our Lady of Sorrows Convent, Brockton, for the daughter of the late John and Genevieve (Karalunas) Barney. During 69 years of religious life, Sister Stephen Marie served in congregational assignments in Conn.; Penn.; Saint Peter (Lithuanian), South Boston; and Saint Casimir (Lithuanian), Brockton. Sister Stephen Marie was buried in Our Lady of Sorrows Cemetery, Brockton.
Sister Mary Gemma Gargano, SHCJ (Jan. 7) in Rosemont, Penn. Funeral celebrated at Holy Child Chapel, Rosemont, Penn., for the daughter of the late Emilio and Concetta (Buccillli) Gargano. During 79 years of religious life, Sister Mary Gemma, who was a Revere native, served in congregational assignments in Ill.; N.J.; N.Y.; and Penn. Sister Mary Gemma was buried in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Philadelphia, Penn.
Sister Eileen Kinnarney, DC (Dec. 28) in Albany, N.Y. Funeral Mass celebrated Jan. 4 at Saint Louise House, Mendands, N.Y., for the daughter of the late Hubert and Margaret (Garvin) Kinnarney. During 59 years of religious life, Sister Eileen, a Framingham native, served in congregational assignments in Cambodia; Thailand; Washington, D.C.; Conn.; Maine; Md.; Mich.; and N.Y. Sister Eileen was buried in Saint Agnes Cemetery, Menands, N.Y.
Sister Catherine Joseph (Mary) McDonough, DC (Dec. 29) In Albany, N.Y. Funeral Mass celebrated Jan. 4 at Saint Louise House, Menands, N.Y., for the daughter of the late Patrick and Katherine (O'Loughlin) McDonough, and sister of Margaret; Eileen; Anna Mullen; Barbara Flaherty; and Patricia Kelleher. During 68 years of religious life, Sister Catherine Joseph served in congregational assignments in Conn.; Md.; N.Y.; N. Car.; and, locally, at Saint Joseph, Holbrook. Sister Catherine Joseph was buried in Saint Agnes Cemetery, Menands, NY.
John E. Amico (Jan. 10) in Canton. Funeral Mass celebrated Jan. 15 at Saint Theresa of Avila, West Roxbury, for the husband of Suzanne (Glennon) Amico, Canton; and father of John; Robert; Edward; and Thomas; and brother of Sister Roseann Amico, CSJ, Watertown; Angelo; Grace Bertolino; and Marguerite Pennini. Committal services were private.
Jean (O'Flaherty) Crossen (Jan. 2) in Gainesville, Ga.; Private funeral services celebrated for the wife of Edward, Gainesville, Ga.; and mother of Leslie, Plainville; Paula Lovett, Franklin; and Amy Cullinane, Wrentham; and sister of the late Father Edward O'Flaherty, SJ. Committal services for Mrs. Crossen were private.
Frances A. (Gianelli) McCoy (Dec. 29) in Groveland. Funeral Mass celebrated at Saint Patrick, Groveland, for the mother of Father Daniel P. McCoy, Saint Mary, Georgetown; Kevin; Robert; Brian; and Michael. Mrs. McCoy was buried in Riverview Cemetery, Groveland.
Daniel J. Souza (Jan. 10) Swampscott. Private services celebrated for the brother of Sister Mary Ann Souza, Somerville; Sheila Pavlik, Concord, and Nancy Parziale, Woburn. Mr. Souza was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery, Everett.
Father William A. Barry, SJ (Dec. 18) in Weston. Funeral Mass celebrated Dec. 22 at Holy Spirit Chapel, Weston, for the son of the late William and Katherine (McKenna) Barry and brother of Sister Mary T. Barry, RSM, and Margaret, both of Worcester; and Kathleen Voigt, Barrington, Ill. During 58 years of priestly ministry in the Society of Jesus, Father Barry served in assignments of the New England (now Jesuit Northeast USA) Province at Center for Religious Development, Cambridge; Jesuit Formation House, Boston; Jesuit Provincial Office, Boston; Provincial, Boston; and Campion Center, Weston. Father Barry was buried in the Jesuit Cemetery, Weston.
Father Myles V. Cyr, OMI (Dec. 24) in Tewksbury. Funeral Mass celebrated Dec. 29 at Immaculate Heart of Mary Chapel, Tewksbury, for the son of the late Francois and Gertrude (Chasse) Cyr and brother of the late Father Roger Cyr, OMI. During 66 years of priestly ministry, Father Cyr served in assignments of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate in Maine; N.H.; N.Y.; R.I.; and, locally, at Notre Dame de Lourdes (French); Saint Jean Baptiste (French), Saint Joseph the Worker Shrine; Franco-American School; and Saint Joseph Hospital; all in Lowell. Father Cyr was buried in the Oblate Cemetery, Tewksbury.
Father Gerald (Mervyn) Leibenguth, OSB (Dec. 26) in Hingham. Private funeral celebrated Dec. 31 at Glastonbury Abbey, Hingham, for the son of the late Gerald and Thelma (Anderle) Leibenguth. During 48 years of priestly ministry, Father Leibenguth served in various assignments of the Benedictines, Glastonbury Abbey, Hingham. Father Leibenguth was buried in the Abbey Cemetery, Hingham.
Sister Patricia (Mary Patricia) Linehan, SNDdeN (Dec. 22) in Worcester. Funeral services celebrated at Notre Dame du Lac, Worcester, for the daughter of the late Patrick and Irene (Hennessy). During 70 years of religious life, Sister Patricia served in congregational assignments in Japan; Hawaii; Worcester; and, locally, at Notre Dame, Ipswich; Saint Gregory and Saint Mark, both in Dorchester; Saint Mary of the Annunciation, Cambridge; Saint Rita, Lawrence; Julie Billiart; Christopher Columbus; and Cardinal Cushing; all in Boston. Sister Patricia was buried in Notre Dame du Lac Cemetery, Worcester.
Robert H. Powers (Dec. 25) in Woburn. Private funeral services celebrated for the father of Father Thomas Powers, Saint Anthony of Padua and Saint Barbara Parishes, Woburn; Brian, San Francisco, Calif.; Mary, Lynn; and Ann Gallagher, Reading. Committal services were private.
Father James J. Pillar, OMI (Dec. 19) in Tewksbury. Funeral Mass celebrated Dec. 26 at Immaculate Heart of Mary Chapel, Tewksbury, for the son of the late Jerome and Gertrude (Swifta) Pillar. During 66 years of priestly ministry, Father Pillar served in congregational assignments in Ottawa, Ontario; Washington, D.C.; Colo.; Ill.; La.; Minn.; Miss.; Mo.; and, locally, at Immaculate Heart of Mary Residence, Tewksbury. Committal services were private.
Sister Elaine (Gregory Anne) DesRosiers, OP (Dec. 16) in Lebanon, Ky. Funeral services celebrated at Saint Catharine Motherhouse, Saint Catharine, Ky., for the daughter of the late Romulus and Lena (Gregoire) DesRosiers; and sister of Janet Fontaine, Sedona, Ariz.; and Felice Cottle, Denver, Colo. During 70 years of religious life, Sister Elaine served in congregational assignments in Ind.; Ky.; and, locally, at Saint Patrick and Trinity Academy, both in Watertown. Sister Elaine was buried in the Motherhouse Cemetery, Saint Catharine, Ky.
Anna (Raffa) Kasenenko (Dec. 14) in Beverly. Funeral Mass celebrated Dec. 21 at Discalced Carmelite Chapel, Danvers, for the mother of Patrick and Nicki, both of Beverly; and sister of Frank Raffa and Joanne Raffa, both of Beverly; and widow of Deacon Joseph Kasenenko. Mrs. Kasenenko was buried in Saint Mary Cemetery, Beverly.