Rev. John F. Walsh died peacefully at Sturdy Memorial Hospital on October 22nd, 2008.
Father Walsh was the son of the late Thomas & Nora (Buckley) Walsh who immigrated from Ireland and settled in Somerville, MA. Fr. Walsh leaves two sisters, Joan Bunker of Somerville and Marie Forestill of Hanson, MA and one brother, Rev. Thomas M. Walsh, SSC who is serving in the Columbian Fathers Missions in Silver Creek, NY. He also leaves a special cousin, Sister Claire Theresa of the Sisters of Charity.
Fr. Walsh attended St. Catherine of Genoa Grammar School 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, NY and Catholic Memorial High School, Boston where he was chairperson of the English Department. He also taught at Franklin Pierce College, Ridge, NH and St. John's Seminary College. Fr. Walsh holds degrees from Iona College, New Rochelle, NY, Boston College and Blessed Pope John XXIII Seminary, Weston, MA. 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 and St. Lucy, Methuen and St. Margaret, Lowell. He was appointed Pastor of St. Martha Parish, Plainville in 1998 and he served the people 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 in the 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 H. S.
Father Walsh will lie in State in St. Martha Church, 227 South Street, Plainville, Massachusetts, on Sunday, October 26th, 2008 from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.. Mass of Christian Burial will be Monday, October 27th, 2008 at 12:00 Noon from St. Martha Church. Burial will follow at the Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in North Andover, Massachusetts.
Arrangements are under the direction of the John Breen Memorial Funeral Home, Inc., 122 Amesbury Street, Lawrence, Massachusetts. For online condolences and other information please go to www.breenfuneralhome.com.
Memorial contributions may be made to Saint Martha Parish, Special Projects, 227 South Street, Plainville, MA 02762.