A Mass of Christian Burial for Father Kevin J. O’Donoghue, pastor emeritus of St. Cecilia parish, Greenpoint, was celebrated May 24 in the chapel at Immaculate Conception Pastoral Center, Douglaston.
He died May 20 at Long Island Jewish Medical Center after a brief illness.
Born in Brooklyn, he attended Cathedral College and Immaculate Conception Seminary, Huntington, L.I. He was ordained May 31, 1958 by Bishop Bryan J. McEntegart at St. James Pro-Cathedral, Downtown Brooklyn.
He served as an assistant at Our Lady of the Cenacle, Richmond Hill, 1958-70; St. Agnes, Cobble Hill, 1970-74; St. Andrew Avellino, Flushing, 1974-80; and St. Thomas the Apostle, Woodhaven, 1980-91.
In 1991, he was named pastor of St. Cecilia, where he served until he retired in 2004. Since then, he has been living at Bishop Mugavero Residence for retired priests in Douglaston.
Auxiliary Bishop Octavio Cisneros was the main celebrant of the funeral Mass. Among the special concelebrants was Father Eugene Coyle.
Father O’Donoghue was known for his kindness, especially to young people and often brought the youth of his parish on trips to the beach or amusement parks. For many of the children, those trips were the only times they would get to go since their parents worked several jobs just to pay the bills.
Victor LoGuise, now 50, recalls being an altar server for Father O’Donoghue at St. Andrew Avellino. He said Father O’Donoghue was like a father to him and he never would have had the opportunity to take those fun trips had it not been for him.
Father O’Donoghue often went out in the community, walking the streets of the neighborhood just to say hello to people. He was a very people- and family-oriented priest, according to funeral director Jim MacDonald.
Later in his life, as his health deteriorated, Father O’Donoghue lost his sight and could no longer get around and celebrate Mass.
“He (Father O’Donoghue) took it very hard because he loved saying Mass,” said Deacon Matt Oellinger, liaison for senior priests. “But he was a good priest and decent man, and that is how he should be remembered.”
Burial was in St. Charles Cemetery, Farmingdale, L.I.