Brother Patrick Murphy, O.S.F., a member of the Brooklyn Franciscans since 1962, died Dec. 7. He was 70. A Mass of Christian burial was celebrated Dec. 11 at St. Anthony’s H.S. Chapel, Huntington, L.I.
Born as John Francis in Far Rockaway, he attended St. Mary Star of the Sea School and St. Francis Prep, Brooklyn, before entering the Franciscan community. He also attended Manhattan College and studied at New York Theological.
He taught at Our Lady of Good Counsel, Bedford-Stuyvesant, and Bishop Ford H.S., Park Slope. He also was educational coordinator and summer job developer for St. John’s Home, Rockaway Beach, and pre-novitiate director for the Franciscan Brothers.
Later, he served as novice director in Upper Brookville, L.I., and also worked at Providence House, Brooklyn.
In 1987, he was appointed to be co-vicar for religious in the Diocese of Rockville Centre, a position he held for 11 years. He then served again as novice director before becoming pastoral associate for senior priests in Rockville Centre.
Brother Patrick also volunteered his time in homeless shelters, food kitchens, the Rose Hawthorne Home for Incurable Cancer and residences for those with AIDS.
Burial was in the community plot in Holy Rood Cemetery, Westbury, L.I.
Sister Mary Ann Tirelli, O.P., a Sister of St. Dominic, Amityville, L.I., for 58 years, died on the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Dec. 12. She would have been 77 on Dec. 21.
She became acquainted with the Dominican Sisters at All Saints H.S. in Williamsburg, and entered the Congregation in 1955. The following year, she received the habit and her religious name, Sister Margaret Louis. One year later, she pronounced her religious vows.
She taught elementary grades at St. Aloysius School, Ridgewood, 1957-1968, and business subjects at Dominican Commercial H.S., Jamaica, 1968-98. When the school closed, she continued to reside at Bethany Convent while ministering as development director at Cathedral, Elmhurst, 1998-2007.
In 2007, poor health necessitated a move to Queen of the Rosary Motherhouse, Carlin Hall, where she was a member of the CenterLight program.
She is survived by her brother Louis, and her sister, Margaret Ryskiewicz.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated in St. Albert’s Chapel, Amityville, Dec. 18. Interment in the Sisters’ Cemetery followed.
Sister Catherine Immaculate Roach, C.S.J., a member of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph, Brentwood, L.I., for 73 years, died Nov. 29.
Born as Mary Anne Roach, she entered the congregation in 1941 from the parish of Our Lady of Sorrows, Corona. She earned a bachelor’s degree in English from St. John’s University, Jamaica; a master’s in speech from Columbia University; and certification in administration from Fordham.
She taught at Holy Child Jesus, Richmond Hill, 1942-45; St. Brendan, Midwood, 1945-46; St. Teresa of Avila, Prospect Heights, 1946-48: St. Benedict Joseph Labre, Richmond Hill, 1948-51; Holy Cross, Flatbush, 1951-52; Immaculate Conception, Jamaica, 1952-53; and St. Francis of Assisi, Crown Heights, 1953-60.
She taught English at Bishop McDonnell H.S., Crown Heights, 1960-61; and St. Agnes Seminary H.S., Marine Park, 1961-68. She served as principal of St. Martha School, Uniondale, L.I., 1968-78.
She became public relations director for education for the Diocese of Rockville Centre, 1978-82, and then taught English at Sacred Heart Academy, Hempstead, L.I., 1982-96.
Interment was in Calvary Cemetery, Brentwood.