Obituaries
Sister Dorothy Payne, 79, dies in 57th year of religious life
The New Jersey native entered the Sisters of St. Joseph in 1961 and ministered in the archdioceses of Newark and Philadelphia, and the Diocese of Trenton.
Bernardine Sister who ministered for 72 years dies in Reading
Sister Lourdine Bielawski of the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters Third Order Regular of St. Francis, died at age 90. The Philadelphia native studied at Villanova University and served in six states.
Maryknoll Sister Margaret Tryon dies at 90, served in South Pacific
The native of Bucks County entered the Maryknoll Sisters in 1947. She would go on to teach, serve in parishes and in prison ministry in the Marshall Islands and Hawaii.
Father Michael Sheehan, retired pastor and Anglophile, dies at 82
The pastor emeritus of Sacred Heart Parish in Philadelphia was of mixed Irish-English heritage, and loved all things British. Both highly intelligent and pastoral, he is remembered for his care to the marginalized.
Retired pastor of St. Gabriel Parish, Stowe, dies at 89
Father James W. Gormley, a South Philadelphia native, was ordained in 1954. He was fun loving, generous to the poor, loved his Irish heritage and his sister and her congregation, the Sisters of Mercy.
Msgr. James Mortimer, former pastor of St. William’s, dies at 91
The beloved priest is remembered as the moderator of the legendary Cardinal Dougherty High School Band, for his priestly service at St. William Parish in Northeast Philadelphia, and hearing confessions at Lourdes.
In memoriam — Gaspar Romero, brother of St. Oscar Romero
On Feb. 2, Santos Gaspar Romero Galdamez, 89, died in San Salvador, El Salvador. Gaspar Romero was the last of eight children of Santos Romero and Guadalupe Galdamez, and one of only two who lived to see their martyred brother beatified and canonized.
Longtime teacher in Montessori method dies at age 85
Sister Yolanda Amoroso of the Religious Teachers Filippini entered the order in 1948 and served as a primary-school teacher in seven dioceses and archdioceses, including Philadelphia.
Deacon Richard Coyne of Holy Cross Parish dies at 88
The permanent deacon was ordained by Cardinal Krol in 1986 and served at his parish in the city's Mount Airy section as his only assignment before retiring in 2010.
John Gordon, Philadelphia Irish tenor, dies at 88
Gordon notably sang on St. Patrick’s Day for more than 30 years at the Irish Pub at 12th and Walnut streets in Philadelphia, and raised funds for St. Ignatius Nursing Home.