Obituary: Father Leroy E. Owens, former pastor in Medfield
A son of Holy Ghost Parish in Whitman, Father Leroy E. Owens died in Falmouth on Jan. 1, 2026. He was born in Whitman's larger neighbor, Brockton,...
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Obituaries & Death Notices
Obituary: Father Mark A. Mahoney, pastor of St. Julia in Weston
An overcast and misty morning of Nov. 22, 2025, greeted the people of St. Julia Parish, Weston, for the funeral Mass of their much-beloved pastor, Father...
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Obituary: Father Thomas P. Kelly, served in multiple parishes of the archdiocese
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,...
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Obituary: Dominican Father John Aquinas Farren, former seminary rector
A 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...
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Obituary: Father Philip J. DesRosiers, Lynn native, pastor in several parishes
Lynn 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...
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Death Notices
Father Leroy E. Owens
Father Leroy E. Owens (Jan. 1) in Falmouth. Funeral Mass celebrated Jan. 9 at Saint Anthony of Padua Church, Falmouth, for the son of the late Leroy and Mary (Smith) Owens; and brother of Kathleen McCavitt, Anne Owens, and Paul, all of Falmouth. Since ordination on Feb. 6, 1964, Father Owens served in assignments at Saint Joseph, Kingston; Our Lady Help of Christians, Newton; Saint Joseph, Malden; Saint Bridget and Marina High School, both in Framingham; Saint Edward the Confessor, Medfield; and Saint Linus and Saint Patrick, both in Natick. Father Owens was buried in Saint James Cemetery, Whitman. [Ed. -- Father Owens' obituary will be in the Jan. 16, 2026, issue of The Pilot.]
Sister Mary (John Ignatius) Burns, SC
Sister Mary (John Ignatius) Burns, SC (Dec. 24) in Wellesley. Funeral Mass celebrated Jan. 5 at Mount Saint Vincent Chapel, Wellesley, for the daughter of the late John and Helena (Dwyer) Burns; and sister of Helene Rodriguez and John T. Burns, both of Dorchester. During 59 years of religious life, Sister Mary served in congregational assignments in N.Y.; and, locally, at Marillac and Elizabeth Seton Residences, both in Wellesley. Sister Mary was buried in Saint Mary Cemetery, Needham.
Sister Claire (Lawrence Marie) Morrissey, CSJ
Sister Claire (Lawrence Marie) Morrissey, CSJ (Jan. 4) in Framingham. Funeral Mass celebrated Jan. 13 at Holy Family Chapel, Brighton, for the daughter of the late Arthur and Theresa (Leahy) Morrissey; and sister of Florence Perry, Alexandria, Va.; Anne Conceison, Lexington; and Judith Laverty, Belmont. During 72 years of religious life, Sister Claire served in congregational assignments in Bethany Hospital, Framingham; Motherhouse, Brighton; Saint Joseph Retreat House, Cohasset; Saint Tarcisius (Italian) and Marian High School, both in Framingham; and Mount Saint Joseph Academy, Brighton. Sister Claire was buried in Saint Patrick Cemetery, Natick.
Ruth (Uberti) Arena
Ruth (Uberti) Arena (Jan. 1) in Hudson, N.H. Funeral Mass celebrated Jan. 5 at Saint Jude Church, Waltham, for the mother of Patricia, Newton; Jeanne Melnick, Center Harbor, N.H.; Carolyn Harms, Saint Croix, USVI; Joseph, Hudson, N.H.; James, Framingham; and Thomas, Waltham; and sister of the late Sister Immaculata (Evelyn) Uberti, MICM. Mrs. Arena was buried in Calvary Cemetery, Waltham.
Deacon John P. Connor
Deacon John P. Connor '94 (Dec. 21) in Brockton. Funeral Mass celebrated Dec. 27 at Holy Cross Church, Easton, for the husband of Hope (Sontag) Connor, Brockton; and father of Kathleen Litchman, Mansfield; Brian, Brockton; Kevin, Stoughton; and Faith, West Bridgewater. During his diaconal ministry, he served at Saint Mary of the Hills, Milton; and Saint Ann by the Sea and Saint Mary of the Assumption, both in Marshfield. Committal services were private.
Sister Eileen (John Joseph) Culkin, SC
Sister Eileen (John Joseph) Culkin, SC (Dec. 18) in Wellesley. Funeral Mass celebrated Dec. 23 at Mount Saint Vincent Chapel, Wellesley, for the daughter of the late Joseph and Marie (Bolin) Culkin. During 77 years of religious life, Sister Eileen served in congregational assignments in Halifax, N.S.; N.Y. and, locally, at Marillac Residence and Elizabeth Seton Residence, both in Wellesley. Sister Eileen was buried in Saint Mary Cemetery, Needham.
Sister Mary (Agnes Carmella) Conroy, SC
Sister Mary (Agnes Carmella) Conroy, SC (Dec. 19) in Wellesley. Funeral Mass celebrated Dec. 30 at Mount Saint Vincent Chapel, Wellesley, for the daughter of the late John and Bridget (Guy) Conroy; and sister of Father Francis X. Conroy, Houston, Texas; and Sister Catherine A. (Shaun Marie) Conroy, SC, and Sister Lillian A. (Thomas Carmel) Conroy, SC, both of Marillac Residence, Wellesley. During 71 years of religious life, Sister Mary served in congregational assignments in Halifax, N.S.; N.Y.; and, locally, at Saint Joseph, Needham; and Marillac Residence and Elizabeth Seton Residence, both in Wellesley. Sister Mary was buried in Saint Mary Cemetery, Needham.
Sister Carole Marie (Carol Louise) Keaney, OSU
Sister Carole Marie (Carol Louise) Keaney, OSU (Dec. 7) in Andrus on the Hudson, N.Y. Funeral Mass celebrated Dec. 16 at Ursuline Convent Chapel, New Rochelle, N.Y., for the daughter of the late John and Mary (Donnolly) Keaney, and sister of the late Msgr. James P. Keaney; and Father John Keaney, MM. During 75 years of religious life, Sister Carole Marie served in congregational assignments in Indonesia; La.; N.H.; and N.Y. Sister Carole was buried in Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Hawthorne, N.Y.
Mary A. (Murphy) Burke
Mary A. (Murphy) Burke (Nov. 21) in West Windsor, N.J. Funeral Mass celebrated Dec. 16 at Saint David the King Church, Princeton Junction, N.J., for the mother of William, Kathleen Mastropasqua, Theresa, and Michael, all of New Windsor, N.J.; and sister of Msgr. Frederick J. Murphy, Regina Cleri Residence, Boston. Committal services were private.
Frederick A. Conroy
Frederick A. Conroy (Dec. 13) in Somerville. Funeral Mass celebrated Dec. 30 at Mount Saint Vincent Chapel, Wellesley, for the brother of Father Francis X. Conroy, Houston, Texas; and Sister Catherine A. (Shaun Marie) Conroy, SC, and Sister Lillian A. (Thomas Carmel) Conroy, SC, both of Marillac Residence, Wellesley; and the late Sister Mary A. (Agnes Carmella) Conroy, SC. Mr. Conroy was buried in Blue Hills Cemetery, Braintree.
Janet F. (Pothier) Riley
Janet F. (Pothier) Riley (Dec. 19) in Brookline. Funeral Mass celebrated Dec. 23 at Saint Lawrence Church, Brookline, for the mother of Father Daniel J. Riley, Sacred Heart Parish, and Our Lady Help of Christians Parish, both in Newton; Stephen and Paul, both of Dedham; Kathleen Haapaoja, Nashua, N.H.; Gail Corcoran, Brookline; and Dennis, Mansfield. Mrs. Riley was buried in Walnut Hills Cemetery, Brookline.
