Advertisement

Rev Fr John Francis Walsh

Advertisement

Rev Fr John Francis Walsh

Birth
Somerville, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA
Death
22 Oct 2008 (aged 63)
Attleboro, Bristol County, Massachusetts, USA
Burial
North Andover, Essex County, Massachusetts, USA Add to Map
Plot
Sec: B2 ~ Lot: 143
Memorial ID
View Source
Rev. John Francis Walsh, of Plainville

PLAINVILLE — Rev. John Francis Walsh died peacefully at Sturdy Memorial Hospital in Attleboro, on Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2008.

Father Walsh was the son of the late Thomas and Nora (Buckley) Walsh who immigrated from Ireland and settled in Somerville. Father Walsh leaves two sisters, Joan Bunker of Somerville and Marie Forestill of Hanson, and one brother, Rev. Thomas M. Walsh, SSC who is serving in the Columbian Fathers Missions in Silver Creek, N.Y. He also leaves a special cousin, Sister Claire Theresa of the Sisters of Charity.

Fr. Walsh attended St. Catherine of Genoa Grammar School, Somerville and Saint Mary's High School, Cambridge. In 1964 he entered the Irish Christian Brothers and taught English and Latin at Bishop Gibbons High School, Schenectady, N.Y. and Catholic Memorial High School, West Roxbury, where he was Chairperson of the English Department. He also taught at Franklin Pierce College, Ridge, N.H. and St. John's Seminary College.

Fr. Walsh held degrees from Iona College, New Rochelle, N.Y., Boston College and Blessed Pope John XXIII Seminary, Weston. He was a member of the 3rd Order of Saint Dominic, 4th Degree Knight of the Knights of Columbus, a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians. He was Chaplain for the Plainville Police and Fire Departments, and a member of the Plainville Senior Center.

Father Walsh was ordained by Cardinal Medeiros on June 5, 1982 at the Cathedral of Holy Cross. His first assignment of Parochial Vicar was Saint Patrick Parish, Lawrence. He also served at Sacred Heart, North Quincy, St. Lucy, Methuen and St. Margaret, Lowell. He was appointed Pastor of St. Martha's Parish, Plainville in September of 1998, and he served the parishioners there for the last ten years.

Fr. Walsh attributed his religious vocation primarily to his family life with parents who were staunch Catholics and to the Sisters of St. Joseph and Sisters of Notre Dame who were his teachers in grammar school and high school. His realization of a call to priesthood came after 14 years as an Irish Christian Brother religious life. With his brother a priest, he had the opportunity to meet many fine priests, but was most especially impressed by the late Rev. Bernard Sullivan who served at St. Catherine's and at Catholic Memorial High School.

ARRANGEMENTS:
Father Walsh will lie in State at St. Martha's Church, 227 South Street, Plainville, on Sunday, Oct. 26, 2008 from 4 to 8 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be Monday, Oct. 27, 2008 at 12 noon from St. Martha's Church.

Burial will follow at the Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in North Andover.

Arrangements are under the direction of the John Breen Memorial Funeral Home, Inc., 122 Amesbury Street, Lawrence. For online condolences and other information please go to Breen Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, Memorial contributions may be made to Saint Martha Parish, Special Projects, 227 South St., Plainville, MA 02762.
Rev. John Francis Walsh, of Plainville

PLAINVILLE — Rev. John Francis Walsh died peacefully at Sturdy Memorial Hospital in Attleboro, on Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2008.

Father Walsh was the son of the late Thomas and Nora (Buckley) Walsh who immigrated from Ireland and settled in Somerville. Father Walsh leaves two sisters, Joan Bunker of Somerville and Marie Forestill of Hanson, and one brother, Rev. Thomas M. Walsh, SSC who is serving in the Columbian Fathers Missions in Silver Creek, N.Y. He also leaves a special cousin, Sister Claire Theresa of the Sisters of Charity.

Fr. Walsh attended St. Catherine of Genoa Grammar School, Somerville and Saint Mary's High School, Cambridge. In 1964 he entered the Irish Christian Brothers and taught English and Latin at Bishop Gibbons High School, Schenectady, N.Y. and Catholic Memorial High School, West Roxbury, where he was Chairperson of the English Department. He also taught at Franklin Pierce College, Ridge, N.H. and St. John's Seminary College.

Fr. Walsh held degrees from Iona College, New Rochelle, N.Y., Boston College and Blessed Pope John XXIII Seminary, Weston. He was a member of the 3rd Order of Saint Dominic, 4th Degree Knight of the Knights of Columbus, a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians. He was Chaplain for the Plainville Police and Fire Departments, and a member of the Plainville Senior Center.

Father Walsh was ordained by Cardinal Medeiros on June 5, 1982 at the Cathedral of Holy Cross. His first assignment of Parochial Vicar was Saint Patrick Parish, Lawrence. He also served at Sacred Heart, North Quincy, St. Lucy, Methuen and St. Margaret, Lowell. He was appointed Pastor of St. Martha's Parish, Plainville in September of 1998, and he served the parishioners there for the last ten years.

Fr. Walsh attributed his religious vocation primarily to his family life with parents who were staunch Catholics and to the Sisters of St. Joseph and Sisters of Notre Dame who were his teachers in grammar school and high school. His realization of a call to priesthood came after 14 years as an Irish Christian Brother religious life. With his brother a priest, he had the opportunity to meet many fine priests, but was most especially impressed by the late Rev. Bernard Sullivan who served at St. Catherine's and at Catholic Memorial High School.

ARRANGEMENTS:
Father Walsh will lie in State at St. Martha's Church, 227 South Street, Plainville, on Sunday, Oct. 26, 2008 from 4 to 8 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be Monday, Oct. 27, 2008 at 12 noon from St. Martha's Church.

Burial will follow at the Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in North Andover.

Arrangements are under the direction of the John Breen Memorial Funeral Home, Inc., 122 Amesbury Street, Lawrence. For online condolences and other information please go to Breen Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, Memorial contributions may be made to Saint Martha Parish, Special Projects, 227 South St., Plainville, MA 02762.

Gravesite Details

Interred: 27 Oct 2008


Sponsored by Ancestry

Advertisement