Obituary: Father Francis X. Mawn, pastor and missionary
From a family with several vocations to priesthood and religious life, Father Francis X. Mawn died on March 5 at Regina Cleri Residence, Boston, where...
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Obituaries & Death Notices
Obituary: Sister Michael of Christ the King, OCD, well-known Carmelite nun
Sister Michael of Christ the King (Elaine) Crimmins, beloved Carmelite nun of the former Discalced Carmelite Monastery in Danvers, died on March 1, following...
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Obituary: Father Mark L. Noonan, long-time seminary professor
A priest for the archdiocese who served almost his entire active priestly ministry on the faculty of St. John Seminary, Father Mark L. Noonan died at Regina...
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Obituary: Archbishop Edgerton R. Clarke, Boston seminary alumnus
Archbishop Edgerton R. Clarke, a 1960 alumnus of the seminary class of St. John Seminary, Brighton, died in his native Jamaica on Feb. 13, 2025. He had...
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Obituary: Sister Clare E. Fitzgerald, SSND, Cambridge native, renowned educator
"I knew her for 50 years. She came from a great family at St. Peter, Cambridge. Phenomenal educator," Msgr. Kevin J. O'Leary described Sister Clare...
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Obituary: Father John F. Mulloy served in parishes and archdiocesan offices
A priest of the archdiocese widely known and admired by people, priests, and bishops, Father John F. Mulloy died at Boston's Regina Cleri Residence,...
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Obituary: Father John U. Paris, Boston's oldest and longest ordained priest, dies
Father John U. Paris, a priest since his ordination at the church of Sant' Alessio in Rome on July 8, 1950, died at Regina Cleri Residence, to where...
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Obituary: Msgr. Cornelius M. McRae, seminary spiritual director, rector, and pastor
It probably is not often that we can define an individual, and especially a priest, with a single word, but in the case of Msgr. Cornelius M. McRae, it...
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Obituary: Father Eugene K. Kirke, long-serving missionary in Peru
A native of Kilkerley, County Louth, Ireland, and the last surviving child of the late Hugh and Brigid (McKenna) Kirke, he was born on March 4, 1934, and...
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Death Notices
Maureen (Connors) McElhinney
Maureen (Connors) McElhinney (Feb. 28) in Boston. Funeral Mass celebrated March 6 at Gate of Heaven Church, South Boston, for the mother of Michael and Michelle McDonough, both of South Boston; Lois Heshmatpour, Reisterstown, Md.; and Paula Bracken, Bridgewater. Sister of Paul Connors, South Boston, and Sister Lois (Marie Paul) Connors, CSJ, Brighton. Mrs. McElhinney was buried in Blue Hill Cemetery, Braintree.
Helen (Harrington) Nugent
Helen (Harrington) Nugent (March 5) in Lynnfield. Funeral Mass celebrated March 14 at Our Lady of the Assumption Church, Lynnfield, for the mother of James, Boston; Patricia Hulse, Herndon, Va.; Thomas, Winchester, Ky.; and Lianne Higgins, Hampton, N.H. Sister of Ann Kelly, Fort Myers, Fla.; and the late Father James Harrington. Committal services were private.
Sister Maureen (Edward Maureen) Beale, SC
Sister Maureen (Edward Maureen) Beale, SC (Feb. 27) in Wellesley. Funeral Mass celebrated March 7 for the daughter of the late Edward and Mildred (Miller) Beale; and sister of Richard, Scituate. During 60 years of religious life, Sister Maureen served in congregational assignments in Nova Scotia; and, locally, at Saint Joseph, Needham; Saint Patrick, Roxbury; Msgr. Ryan Memorial High School, Dorchester; and Mount Saint Vincent Residence, Wellesley. Sister Maureen was buried in Saint Mary Cemetery, Needham.
Father John J. Pierce, OFM
Father John J. Pierce, OFM (Feb. 22) in Butler, N.J. Funeral Mass celebrated March 3 at Saint Anthony of Padua Church, Butler, N.J., for the son of the late Ralph and Frances (Mutty) Pierce. During 61 years of priestly ministry in the Franciscan Friars, Father Pierce, a Melrose native, served in N.J.; N.Y.; he was also a chaplain in the US Navy Corps, serving in Vietnam and Veterans' Administration Hospital in N.J. and N.Y. Father Pierce was buried in Mount Calvary Cemetery, Butler, N.J.
Brother Michael F. Brinkman, SDB
Brother Michael F. Brinkman, SDB (Feb. 18) in Temple Terrace, Fla. Funeral Mass celebrated Feb. 28 at Marian Shrine, Haverstraw, N.Y., for the son of the late Urban and Florentine (Rentz) Brinkman, and brother of Frederick, Lois Kenkare, and Ann Oberer, all of Dayton, Ohio. During 64 years of religious life, Brother Michael served in assignments of the Salesians of Don Bosco in Calif.; Fla.; N.J.; N.Y.; and, locally, at Don Bosco Technical School, Boston. Brother Michael was buried in the Salesian Cemetery, Goshen, N.Y.
Sister Mary Magdalen (Julia) FitzGerald, OSC
Sister Mary Magdalen (Julia) FitzGerald, OSC (Feb. 11) in Westwood. Funeral Mass celebrated Feb. 18 at Monastery of Saint Clare, Westwood, for the daughter of Gerald and Marie (Munz) FitzGerald. During 70 years of religious life, Sister Mary Magdalen served in the ministries of the Poor Clares in Jamaica Plain and Westwood. Sister Mary Magdalen was buried in Mount Benedict Cemetery, West Roxbury.
Elaine (Murphy) MacKenzie
Elaine (Murphy) MacKenzie (Feb. 23) in Waltham. Funeral Mass celebrated Feb. 28 at Our Lady Comforter of the Afflicted, Waltham, for the mother of Deborah LeBlanc and Colleen Weatherall, both of Marlborough; William, Harrisburg, Penn.; and Stephen, Waltham; and wife of the late Deacon William E. MacKenzie. Mrs. MacKenzie was buried in Mount Feake Cemetery, Waltham.
Catherine M. O'Connell
Catherine M. O'Connell (Feb. 9) in West Roxbury. Funeral Mass celebrated March 3 for the sister of the late Sister Rita O' Connell, RSM, Mayo, Ireland. Committal services were private.
Renges (Salhab) Roumbakis
Renges (Salhab) Roumbakis (Feb. 17) in Waltham. Private funeral services celebrated for the wife of George, Waltham; and mother of Rosemarie Cacciatore, Waltham; and sister of Mona Harouk, Father Pierre Charles Salhab, and Boulas Salhab, all of Lebanon. Committal services were private.
Father William C. Russell, SJ
Father William C. Russell, SJ (Feb. 11) in Weston. Funeral Mass celebrated Feb. 17, 2025, at Holy Spirit Chapel, Weston, for the son of the late William and Mary (White) Russell, and brother of Gregory, Westford; and Jude, Kingston. During 60 years of priestly ministry, he served in assignments of the Jesuits United East Province in Jamaica; France; Calif.; Maine; Lenox; Worcester; and, locally, at Boston College High School, Boston; Saint Ignatius Loyola, Newton; Boston College, Newton; Loyola House, Boston; and Provincial Offices, Boston and Watertown. Father Russell was buried in the Jesuit Cemetery, Weston.
Virginia (O'Brien) Cahill
Virginia (O'Brien) Cahill (Feb. 3) in Andover. Funeral Mass celebrated Feb. 12 at Saint Augustine Church, Andover, for the mother of Joseph, Andover; and Janine Brady, Oakland, Tenn.; and sister of Thomas, Andover; and the late Father Gerard O'Brien, SJ. Mrs. Cahill was buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Medford.
Martin Horkan
Martin Horkan (Feb. 9) in Malden. Funeral Mass celebrated Feb. 18 at Saint Joseph Church, Malden, for the husband of Anne (Whooley) Horkan, Malden; and father of Marie DiMeglio, Wakefield; Joanne Pelletier, Bedford, N.H; Theresa Ventura, Melrose; Michelle Colburn, Eliot, Maine; and Martin, Malden; and brother of Sister Nuala Horkan SSJG, Perth, Australia. Mr. Horkan was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery, Everett.
Mary (Walsh) Ross
Mary (Walsh) Ross (Feb. 10) in Framingham. Funeral Mass celebrated Feb. 17 at Holy Family Chapel, Framingham, for the wife of Charles, Framingham; mother of Charles, Medway; and Nancy Kelly, Natick; and sister of Father John Walsh, SJ, Weston; Francis, Melrose; and Thomas, Bedford. Mrs. Ross was buried in Glenwood Cemetery, Natick.
Daniel W. Shea
Daniel W. Shea (Feb. 10) in Marblehead. Funeral Mass celebrated Feb. 14 at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church, Marblehead, for the husband of Marjorie, and father of Catherine Turino, Glen Ridge, N.J.; Carolyn Cure, East Greenwich, R.I.; and Susan May, Marblehead; and brother of Father Timothy Shea, Saint Barbara, Woburn.
