Obituaries

Father Francis Kelly, retired pastor, dies at 91

The retired pastor of St. Teresa of Avila Parish in Norristown, the same town where he was born and raised, died Sept. 25 at age 91. The funeral Mass is Oct. 1.

Nurse, health care leader Sister Audrey Kimbar dies at 82

The sister of the Holy Family of Nazareth served at Nazareth Hospital, St. John Neumann Nursing Home and Immaculate Mary Nursing Home in Philadelphia and Holy Family Nursing Services in Allentown.

Father Albert Santorsola, pastor of Delco parish, dies at 63

The South Philadelphia native served at several parishes and taught for years in Catholic high schools before leading St. Rose of Lima Parish, Eddystone in 2018.

Deacon Edward Hanley of St. Timothy Parish dies at 73

A retired SEPTA employee who was ordained a permanent deacon in 2006, Deacon Hanley served his Northeast Philadelphia parish by visiting the sick, teaching and writing on scripture.

Funeral rites set for Father Anthony Orth, pastor in Norwood

Ordained in 1975, Father Orth led St. Gabriel Parish in Delaware County and is well known for his volunteer ministry to the homeless and needy of Chester. The funeral Mass will be livestreamed.

Sister McNamee, ‘one of the giants in Catholic education,’ dies at 89

She was the first woman president of the National Catholic Educational Association, president of a women's university and held other positions of leadership in Catholic education.

Cardinal Jaworski, once a ‘secret cardinal,’ dies at 94

Cardinal Marian Jaworski, a close friend of St. John Paul II since the 1950s and former Latin-rite archbishop of Lviv, Ukraine, died Sept. 5.

Professor, administrator Sister Mary Catherine Gurley dies

The Sister of St. Francis of Philadelphia was a professor of education at several colleges for many years and administrative vice president of Neumann University for nine years.

Father Ronald Ferrier dies; was Cardinal Dougherty teacher for 4 decades

A native of Conshohocken who was ordained a priest in 1968, he would go on to teach Latin and physical science at the former archdiocesan high school in Philadelphia. He is fondly remembered by colleagues.

IHM Sister Louise Goeller dies; was teacher, contemplative

The native of Philadelphia taught in schools in the Philadelphia area and for two stints in Chile and Peru. She also spent several years in a Trappist women's congregation before returning to the IHM sisters. She was 88.