West Bridgewater – Reverend Richard F. Ahearn of West Bridgewater, passed away Saturday November 19 at the age of 87.
Born and raised in Whitman, he was the son of the late Patrick and Margaret (Dunn) Ahearn and a graduate of Whitman High School, Class of 1947.
Father Ahearn graduated from Boston University; School of Music then attended Saint John’s Seminary in Brighton and was ordained a priest in 1960.
His first parish assignment was Plymouth, and later relocating to a parish Lynn. In the fifteen years following, he served through the St James Society, in parishes throughout South America. Prior to his retirement his final assignment had been in Danvers.
Father Ahearn had enjoyed tennis, skiing, traveling and had been an accomplished musician playing both piano and guitar.
He is survived by his sisters Irene West of Whitman and Marion Feeney of East Bridgewater and his nieces and nephews Martin and Dianna West, Joel West and the Hon. Deborah Dunn, Richard and Dorothy West, Marianne and William Scully, Janice West-Rines and Ralph and Colleen Frye. He is also survived by his great nieces and nephews Laurie Bonano and her children, Vanessa, Alexandra, Frank and Tino Bonano, Eric and Katy West and their children Joshua and Jack West, Robert and Gregory West, Patrick Scully and Alissa and their children Lucas, Hunter and Johanna, Christian, and Angelique Scully, Tyler Norton, Jennifer Norton and her children Jalena, Alexia, and Kaiden, and Aaron West and Evan and Sarah Frye.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend his services to be held Wednesday November 23 at 10:15 AM from the Blanchard Funeral Chapel, Plymouth Street (Rte. 58 at the rotary) Whitman, followed by a funeral Mass at 11:00 AM in the Holy Ghost Church, School Street, Whitman. Burial will follow in Saint James Cemetery. Visiting hours will be held Tuesday November 22 from 4:00-8:00 PM.