Obituaries
Sister Mary Bradley, S.S.J., dies at 85
After attending Ascension of Our Lord School and Little Flower High School in Philadelphia, she entered the Sisters of St. Joseph in 1952 as Sister Anne Peter. She would serve in three dioceses.
Dolphins coach Don Shula remembered as humble, daily Mass attendee
The NFL's winningest coach, two-time Super Bowl champion with the Miami Dolphins, Hall of Famer and faithful Catholic who practiced his faith and raised money for Catholic schools, died May 4.
Sister Clarita Hackman, skilled in finance, dies at 86
The Medical Mission Sister was a Missouri native who studied bookkeeping in Philadelphia, served for many years in Ghana and Kenya as an X-ray tech, and held several financial positions in Philadelphia.
Private funerals planned for 3 archdiocesan priests
Father Robert Feeney, Father James Mulligan and Msgr. Joseph Murray died in recent weeks but their funeral Masses were not public due to coronavirus restrictions.
Sister Maria Angelita Ortiz, pastoral minister, dies at 88
A Sister of St. Francis of Philadelphia for 66 years, the Puerto Rico native ministered for many years there and in the Philadelphia Archdiocese in Hispanic ministry.
Sister M. Patricia E. Youtz, I.H.M., dies at 79, was longtime teacher
Formerly Sister Maureen Bernard, the Little Flower High School graduate served in grade schools and high schools in the Philadelphia Archdiocese for 61 years as an I.H.M. sister.
Father Laurence Gleason, active in health ministry, dies at 67
The Norristown native attended Visitation School and Bishop Kenrick High School before earning degrees in voice, and performing in operas before discovering his vocation to priesthood.
Deacon Francis Burke of St. Bernadette Parish dies at 80
A business manager at several parishes who was ordained a permanent deacon in 1999, Deacon Burke is remembered fondly: "Most people ... would describe him as a saint," said a fellow deacon.
Sister Mary Agnes Loftus, I.H.M., dies at 95
The former Sister Michael Raphael taught in schools mostly in the Philadelphia Archdiocese over the course of her 76 years as a Sister, Servant of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
Msgr. Charles McGroarty, former St. Matthew’s pastor, dies
The former pastor of one of Northeast Philadelphia's largest parishes was also director of the archdiocesan Family Life Office and began the annual wedding anniversary Masses. He was 86.