Proceeding us to the Father...
Friar Leo Merriman, OFM Conv.
died peacefully February 9, 2010 at St. Mary’ Hospital, Troy, NY. Born in Troy he was the son of the late Frank Merriman & Alice Bouchard Merriman; stepson of the late Joseph Overocker. He is survived by a brother Robert Overocker; his niece Mary Alice O’Brien; nephew Joseph Brandolini, Jr. and several nieces and nephews. He was the brother of the late Edna Mae Rosko & Jeanette Marie Brandolini.
Brother Leo professed his first vows as a Conventual Franciscan Friar on March 19, 1950, Cohoes, NY and professed his solemn vows on March 19, 1954, Rensselaer, NY.
Brother Leo served the province as Associate Director of the Franciscan Mission Association for 23 years, in Rensselaer, NY; Syracuse, NY; he also served in pastoral care at Staten Island, NY; Utica, NY; Albany, NY; for the past year he was a resident at Northwoods Health Center, Troy, NY.
The wake was held at Holy Family Church in Albany, NY on February 11th, and the Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Friday, February 12th. Interment toke place in the Friar’s Plot at Our Lady of Angels Cemetery, Albany, NY.
Friar Shawn Nolan, OFM Conv.
died October 31, 2009at St. Francis Friary, 500 Todt Hill Road, Staten Island, NY. Born on July 27, 1923 in Greenwich, Ct., he was the son of the late Richard & Mary Duane Nolan. He is survived by a niece Susan Bach, New Canaan, Ct. He was predeceased by his brother James and sisters Mary Nolan, Margaret McIntosh & Nancy Quinn.
Shawn professed his first vows as a Conventual Franciscan Friar on September 16, 1951, Middleburg, NY, and professed his solemn vows on September 17, 1954, Rensselaer, NY. He was ordained to the priesthood on February 5, 1955 in Washington, DC.
In his 54 years as a friar-priest, he served in many capacities in the service of the Franciscan Order and the Church. He was Province Tresurer in Syracuse, NY; Assistant Minister Provincial 1966-69; Minister Provincial of the Immaculate Conception Province 1969-1976. He also taught high school in Trenton, NJ. He served at St. Francis Friary, Staten Island, NY in Ministry to Religious Men & Women as Director of Tau House Retreat Program from 1976 until the time of his death.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated for Shawn on November 4th , 2009 at St. Francis Friary, Staten Island, NY. Interment followed in the Friar’s Plot at Our Lady of Lourdes Cemetery, Trenton, NJ.
Friar Kevin Kenny, OFM Conv.
died October 16, 2009 at Albany Medical Center, Albany, NY. Born in the Bronx, November 5, 1939 he was the son of the late John A. and Mary Gannon Kenny. He is survived by his twin sister Patricia Kenny of New York City, & Kathleen Kenny Ronner of Naples Florida & several nieces & nephews. He was predeceased by a sister Maureen Kenny O’Brien.
Kevin professed his first vows as a Conventual Franciscan Friar on August 12, 1960, Middleburg, NY, and professed his solemn vows on September 29, 1963, Rensselaer, NY. He was ordained to the priesthood in Albany, NY on May 28, 1966.
In his 50 years as a friar-priest, he served in many capacities in the service of the Franciscan Order and the Church. He was a teacher in Pittsburgh, PA, Vocation Director and teacher at St. Francis Seminary, Staten Island, NY; Pastoral Minister at Covenant House in NYC; Pastor at Tribes Hills, NY; Point Pleasant Beach, NJ; Binghamton, NY. Since 1995 he served as Director of the National Kateri Tekakwitha Shrine, Fonda, NY.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on October 20thth, 2009 at St. Cecilia’s Church, Fonda, NY. Interment followed in the Friars’ Plot at Our Lady of Angels Cemetery, Albany, NY.
Friar Leon Dicks, OFM Conv.
died peacefully at Carmel Richmond Nursing Home, Staten Island, NY on October 3, 2009. Born in Staten Island, NY, December 21, 1925, he was the son of the late Joseph and Teresa Brinton Dicks. He is survived by brothers Michael of Glen Clove, LI, Joseph & Thomas Dicks of Staten Island, Vincent Dicks of Lakewood, NJ, sisters, Mary Magnuski of Staten Island, Adelaide Burke, Mechanicsville, VA , Margaret Cammerano , Metuchen, NJ Kathleen Adinolfi, Naples, Fl and the late Charles, William Dicks, also survived by fifty one nieces and nephews and his Franciscan brothers.
Leon professed his first vows as a Conventual Franciscan Friar on September 16, 1951 in Middleburg, NY and his solemn vows on September 17, 1954 in Rensselaer, NY. He was ordained to the priesthood on June 1, 1957 at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Albany, NY.
He spent many years as a hospital chaplain at St. Francis Hospital, Trenton, NJ; Lourdes Hospital, Binghamton, NY. He also served as Associate Pastor in Riverside, NJ and Syracuse, NY. He was Pastor of St. Bartholomew Church, Camden, NJ from 1988 to 1991. He also served as Regional Director of the Secular Franciscan Order for many years.
A concelebrated Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at the friary chapel on October 7, 2009. Interment followed in the Friars’ Plot at Our Lady of Lourdes Cemetery, Trenton, NJ.
Friar Juniper Alwell, OFM Conv.
died September 10, 2009 at Community Hospital, Toms River, NJ. Born on July 27, 1930 in Schenectady, he was the son of the late William & Evelyn Conlin Alwell. He is survived by two nieces: Lynn Winslow of Sarasota, Florida and Patricia Gremmler of Albany, NY. He was predeceased by his brother, William and his sister, Clare.
Fr. Juniper was a 1948 graduate of Vincentian Insitute. He professed his first vows as a Conventual Franciscan Friar on September 16, 1951, Middleburg, NY, and professed his solemn vows on September 17, 1954, Rensselaer, NY. He was ordained to the priesthood in Rome, Italy on June 8, 1956.
In his 53 years as a friar-priest, he served in many capacities in the service of the Franciscan Order and the Church. He was a teacher and Vocation Director at St. Francis Seminary, Staten Island, NY; teacher at Siena College, Loudonville, NY; Associate Pastor at Our Lady of Angels, Church, Albany, NY; Director of the College Seminary Program, St. Anthony-on-Hudson, Rensselaer, NY; Pastor in Hoboken, NJ and Burlington, NC; Spiritual Director at Covenant House, NYC; Vicar Provincial of the Province of the Immaculate Conception; Guardian, St. Francis Friary, Staten Island, NY; Chaplain, Hancock Air Force Base, Syracuse, NY., Director of the Kateri Tekakwitha Shrine, Fonda, NY. Since 2006, he resided at St. Catharine’s Friary, Seaside Park, NJ.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on September 16, 2009 in Holy Family Church, Albany, NY. Interment followed in the Friars’ Plot at Our Lady of Angels Cemetery, Albany, NY.
Friar Phil Kelly, OFM Conv.
died peacefully, September 7, 2009 at St. Francis Hospice Inn. Born in Farrellton, Quebec on June 18, 1932, he was the son of the late Gerald Kelly and Unice Daly Kelly. Survivors include two brothers Rev. Carl Kelly, OMI; Joseph Kelly and two sisters.
Philip professed his first vows as a Conventual Franciscan Friar on August 12, 1961 in Middleburg, NY and professed solemn vows at St. Anthony-on-Hudson, Rensselaer, NY August 16, 1964.
Phil was a missioner in Costa Rica; he also served the community in Camden, NJ; St. Lambert, Quebec; as editor of the Companion Magazine, Toronto, Ontario; since 2001 he was assigned at Assumption Parish to direct the development of new and alternative ministries. He also wrote a weekly column for the Catholic Sun
diocesan newspaper.
A concelebrated Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at Assumption Church on September 11, 2009. Interment followed in the friars plot at Assumption Cemetery, Syracuse, NY.
Donations in memory of a deceased friar may be sent to the Franciscan Friar's Retirement Fund, PO Box 629, Rensselaer, NY 12144
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