~~~A very special Uncle, he was always there when I needed him,he was my Mother's brother~~~.
Brother Gerard O'Brien was my favorite uncle.He was born James O'Brien Jr.in Brooklyn, New York to James and Bridget O'Brien.He was the youngest of 4 children. He had three sisters, one he never met Theresa, passed away in Ireland before my grandparents came to th U.S.. His older sister Margaret was a devoted missionary with the Maryknoll Sisters for over 55 years.His other sister Kathleen was my mother.At the age of 17 he entered into what was to be his calling into the monastery.In 1950 he took final vows and became a Franciscan Friar.From 1970-1976 he was the "Superior General"of his order. He went on to teach after fulfilling his obligation as Superior General.When I married he was on the altar as he was for my mother when she married, and my beautiful cousin Laura McGill-Ida. He sadly enough was back on the altar to participate in Laura's funeral mass 12 years later. Around 1983 he left to go down to North Carolina and lead a Priest-less Parish, due to the lack of priests in the Catholic Church.He made many wonderful friends down there and when I had my first child received many cards and good wishes from his parishioners, through their love of him. In 1988 "Unc" as we called him suffered a major heart attack.We were ready to say our good-byes to him and were devastated. God evidently had other plans, because Unc lived for another 15 years. The road to his recovery was long,but not as long as it could have been with his upbeat spirit and his love of God. After this he had to slow down and returned to New York, where we were thrilled to have him home. In spite of his health he remained active, taking care of those who could not take care of themselves. Unfortunately my Uncle was diagnosed with cancer sometime in 2001, and some senility was starting to set in.He was living in the nursing home of The Sisters of St. Joseph, where his care was excellent, for this was the man that had helped them through some difficult times and ministered to their elderly and sick sisters.He returned to God on January 3, 2003,for there is no doubt that his service to our Lord for over 55 years was not over looked. His sister and my mother survived him by only 11 months and Margaret a year to the day of his death. All three siblings within one year were reunited, with their parents.He leaves behind myself, four grand-nieces and three great grand nieces and nephews. He was loved by all that knew him and is still missed.I need to get more information from the Friars as to the grave and plot and will add that information as I get it.
A special thank-you to Elizabeth Kessler for sponsoring my beloved Uncle's Memorial. You're wonderful.
Brother Gerard O'Brien was my favorite uncle.He was born James O'Brien Jr.in Brooklyn, New York to James and Bridget O'Brien.He was the youngest of 4 children. He had three sisters, one he never met Theresa, passed away in Ireland before my grandparents came to th U.S.. His older sister Margaret was a devoted missionary with the Maryknoll Sisters for over 55 years.His other sister Kathleen was my mother.At the age of 17 he entered into what was to be his calling into the monastery.In 1950 he took final vows and became a Franciscan Friar.From 1970-1976 he was the "Superior General"of his order. He went on to teach after fulfilling his obligation as Superior General.When I married he was on the altar as he was for my mother when she married, and my beautiful cousin Laura McGill-Ida. He sadly enough was back on the altar to participate in Laura's funeral mass 12 years later. Around 1983 he left to go down to North Carolina and lead a Priest-less Parish, due to the lack of priests in the Catholic Church.He made many wonderful friends down there and when I had my first child received many cards and good wishes from his parishioners, through their love of him. In 1988 "Unc" as we called him suffered a major heart attack.We were ready to say our good-byes to him and were devastated. God evidently had other plans, because Unc lived for another 15 years. The road to his recovery was long,but not as long as it could have been with his upbeat spirit and his love of God. After this he had to slow down and returned to New York, where we were thrilled to have him home. In spite of his health he remained active, taking care of those who could not take care of themselves. Unfortunately my Uncle was diagnosed with cancer sometime in 2001, and some senility was starting to set in.He was living in the nursing home of The Sisters of St. Joseph, where his care was excellent, for this was the man that had helped them through some difficult times and ministered to their elderly and sick sisters.He returned to God on January 3, 2003,for there is no doubt that his service to our Lord for over 55 years was not over looked. His sister and my mother survived him by only 11 months and Margaret a year to the day of his death. All three siblings within one year were reunited, with their parents.He leaves behind myself, four grand-nieces and three great grand nieces and nephews. He was loved by all that knew him and is still missed.I need to get more information from the Friars as to the grave and plot and will add that information as I get it.
A special thank-you to Elizabeth Kessler for sponsoring my beloved Uncle's Memorial. You're wonderful.
~~~A very special Uncle, he was always there when I needed him,he was my Mother's brother~~~.
Brother Gerard O'Brien was my favorite uncle.He was born James O'Brien Jr.in Brooklyn, New York to James and Bridget O'Brien.He was the youngest of 4 children. He had three sisters, one he never met Theresa, passed away in Ireland before my grandparents came to th U.S.. His older sister Margaret was a devoted missionary with the Maryknoll Sisters for over 55 years.His other sister Kathleen was my mother.At the age of 17 he entered into what was to be his calling into the monastery.In 1950 he took final vows and became a Franciscan Friar.From 1970-1976 he was the "Superior General"of his order. He went on to teach after fulfilling his obligation as Superior General.When I married he was on the altar as he was for my mother when she married, and my beautiful cousin Laura McGill-Ida. He sadly enough was back on the altar to participate in Laura's funeral mass 12 years later. Around 1983 he left to go down to North Carolina and lead a Priest-less Parish, due to the lack of priests in the Catholic Church.He made many wonderful friends down there and when I had my first child received many cards and good wishes from his parishioners, through their love of him. In 1988 "Unc" as we called him suffered a major heart attack.We were ready to say our good-byes to him and were devastated. God evidently had other plans, because Unc lived for another 15 years. The road to his recovery was long,but not as long as it could have been with his upbeat spirit and his love of God. After this he had to slow down and returned to New York, where we were thrilled to have him home. In spite of his health he remained active, taking care of those who could not take care of themselves. Unfortunately my Uncle was diagnosed with cancer sometime in 2001, and some senility was starting to set in.He was living in the nursing home of The Sisters of St. Joseph, where his care was excellent, for this was the man that had helped them through some difficult times and ministered to their elderly and sick sisters.He returned to God on January 3, 2003,for there is no doubt that his service to our Lord for over 55 years was not over looked. His sister and my mother survived him by only 11 months and Margaret a year to the day of his death. All three siblings within one year were reunited, with their parents.He leaves behind myself, four grand-nieces and three great grand nieces and nephews. He was loved by all that knew him and is still missed.I need to get more information from the Friars as to the grave and plot and will add that information as I get it.
A special thank-you to Elizabeth Kessler for sponsoring my beloved Uncle's Memorial. You're wonderful.
Brother Gerard O'Brien was my favorite uncle.He was born James O'Brien Jr.in Brooklyn, New York to James and Bridget O'Brien.He was the youngest of 4 children. He had three sisters, one he never met Theresa, passed away in Ireland before my grandparents came to th U.S.. His older sister Margaret was a devoted missionary with the Maryknoll Sisters for over 55 years.His other sister Kathleen was my mother.At the age of 17 he entered into what was to be his calling into the monastery.In 1950 he took final vows and became a Franciscan Friar.From 1970-1976 he was the "Superior General"of his order. He went on to teach after fulfilling his obligation as Superior General.When I married he was on the altar as he was for my mother when she married, and my beautiful cousin Laura McGill-Ida. He sadly enough was back on the altar to participate in Laura's funeral mass 12 years later. Around 1983 he left to go down to North Carolina and lead a Priest-less Parish, due to the lack of priests in the Catholic Church.He made many wonderful friends down there and when I had my first child received many cards and good wishes from his parishioners, through their love of him. In 1988 "Unc" as we called him suffered a major heart attack.We were ready to say our good-byes to him and were devastated. God evidently had other plans, because Unc lived for another 15 years. The road to his recovery was long,but not as long as it could have been with his upbeat spirit and his love of God. After this he had to slow down and returned to New York, where we were thrilled to have him home. In spite of his health he remained active, taking care of those who could not take care of themselves. Unfortunately my Uncle was diagnosed with cancer sometime in 2001, and some senility was starting to set in.He was living in the nursing home of The Sisters of St. Joseph, where his care was excellent, for this was the man that had helped them through some difficult times and ministered to their elderly and sick sisters.He returned to God on January 3, 2003,for there is no doubt that his service to our Lord for over 55 years was not over looked. His sister and my mother survived him by only 11 months and Margaret a year to the day of his death. All three siblings within one year were reunited, with their parents.He leaves behind myself, four grand-nieces and three great grand nieces and nephews. He was loved by all that knew him and is still missed.I need to get more information from the Friars as to the grave and plot and will add that information as I get it.
A special thank-you to Elizabeth Kessler for sponsoring my beloved Uncle's Memorial. You're wonderful.
