Born in Brooklyn, he attended St. Mary’s College, St. Mary, Ky.; and Mount St. Mary Seminary, Emmitsburg, Md. He was ordained May 30, 1964 at St. James Pro-Cathedral, Downtown Brooklyn, by Bishop Bryan J. McEntegart.
He served as an assistant at Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Maujer St., Williamsburg, 1964-66; Our Lady of the Presentation, Brownsville, 1966-74; and was spiritual director at St. Francis Prep, Fresh Meadows, 1974-92.
He served as pastor of Holy Rosary, Bedford-Stuyvesant, 1992-96, and at St. Clare, Rosedale, 1996-2007.
He also was spiritual director at Cathedral Prep Seminary, Elmhurst, 2007-2010. He was named a monsignor in 1988.
Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio was the main celebrant of the funeral Mass. Special concelebrants included Msgr. John J. Brown, and Fathers Hugh Byrne and Raymond Roden.
Deacon Matt Oellinger, liaison for senior priests, said that Msgr. Cooney “was a very spiritual and holy priest. He loved the young people especially at St. Francis Prep and as spiritual director and advisor at Cathedral Prep in Elmhurst.”
He explained that Msgr. Cooney also was known for a vast collection of joke books. “He had a wonderful sense of humor,” said the deacon.
“He was a very holy man … a fine man and a great priest. He was a good listener and could make you feel better.”
“I’m not sure there is a word that can describe how really ‘good’ he was.”
When St. Francis Prep announced the death on its website, it immediately filled with tributes from former students thanking Msgr. Cooney for his guidance, counsel and understanding as well as his “corny” jokes.
Msgr. Cooney is survived by his sister, Jeanne Corrigan of Lake Grove, L.I. Burial was in St. John’s Cemetery, Middle Village.