Deceased Friars

Robert O'Hea, OFM

Robert O’Hea

1894 – 1952

Fr. Robert O’Hea, OFM, was born in Boston on May 1, 1894. He was received into the Province’s novitiate July 25, 1912, and professed temporary vows July 28, 1913. Fr. Robert made his profession of solemn vows Aug. 12, 1916, and was ordained a priest at St. Bonaventure Church in Paterson, N.J., on Sept. 20, 1919.

Fr. Robert’s only classmate was Fr. Jerome Dawson, OFM, who later became the Provincial Minister of Holy Name Province. The other two friars who had been ordained deacons with them — Br. Edmund Killian, OFM, and Br. Norbert Moore, OFM — died during the flu epidemic of 1919.

Fr. Robert and Fr. Jerome went to St. Joseph’s Seraphic Seminary in Callicoon, N.Y., after ordination, but in 1920, Fr. Robert was assigned to St. Bonaventure College in Allegany, N.Y., where he taught for seven years. He also ministered at St. Patrick Church in Buffalo, N.Y., St. Joseph Church in Winsted, Conn., St. Francis of Assisi in New York City, St. Joseph Church in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., St. Stephen Church in Croghan, N.Y., and Holy Name Church in Garfield, N.J.

He was a scholarly professor, a popular preacher and a friar with a warm love for the People of God. Fr. Robert died in St. Clare’s Hospital in Schenectady, N.Y., on June 6, 1952. He was 58 years old, a professed friar for 38 years and a priest for 32 years.

Each of us should be called a lesser brother, a Friar Minor. Each one of us should wash the feet of the others.”

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Robert O'Hea, OFM

Robert O’Hea

1894 – 1952

Fr. Robert O’Hea, OFM, was born in Boston on May 1, 1894. He was received into the Province’s novitiate July 25, 1912, and professed temporary vows July 28, 1913. Fr. Robert made his profession of solemn vows Aug. 12, 1916, and was ordained a priest at St. Bonaventure Church in Paterson, N.J., on Sept. 20, 1919.

Fr. Robert’s only classmate was Fr. Jerome Dawson, OFM, who later became the Provincial Minister of Holy Name Province. The other two friars who had been ordained deacons with them — Br. Edmund Killian, OFM, and Br. Norbert Moore, OFM — died during the flu epidemic of 1919.

Fr. Robert and Fr. Jerome went to St. Joseph’s Seraphic Seminary in Callicoon, N.Y., after ordination, but in 1920, Fr. Robert was assigned to St. Bonaventure College in Allegany, N.Y., where he taught for seven years. He also ministered at St. Patrick Church in Buffalo, N.Y., St. Joseph Church in Winsted, Conn., St. Francis of Assisi in New York City, St. Joseph Church in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., St. Stephen Church in Croghan, N.Y., and Holy Name Church in Garfield, N.J.

He was a scholarly professor, a popular preacher and a friar with a warm love for the People of God. Fr. Robert died in St. Clare’s Hospital in Schenectady, N.Y., on June 6, 1952. He was 58 years old, a professed friar for 38 years and a priest for 32 years.