ALLEGANY, N.Y. — A community of friars and friends gathered at St. Bonaventure University Chapel here this month to remember the life of 90-year-old Daniel Hurley, OFM, who died March 13 at nearby Olean General Hospital during emergency surgery.
A Mass of Christian Burial for Daniel, a professed friar for 68 years and a priest for 64, was celebrated March 18 by Provincial Minister John O’Connor, OFM.Daniel Riley, OFM, guardian of Holy Peace Friary in nearby West Clarkesville, N.Y., preached the homily.
Early Years
Dan was born June 7, 1919, in Albany, N.Y., to Charles and Mary (Cullen) Hurley and baptized Richard on June 22 at St. Vincent de Paul Church in Albany. He attended the Vincentian Institute and Vincentian High School in Albany before enrolling at St. Bonaventure.
In 1940, Dan graduated with a bachelor’s degree in the classics and was received into the Order of Friars Minor at St. Bonaventure Friary, Paterson, N.J., on Aug. 12.
He professed first vows there Aug. 13, 1941, before Jerome Dawson, OFM. Dan studied theology at Holy Name College in Washington, D.C., and on Sept. 17, 1944, he professed final vows there before Bertrand Campbell, OFM. He was ordained a priest June 17, 1945, at Mt. St. Sepulchre Friary Chapel in Washington by Archbishop Amleto Cicognani, the apostolic delegate.
Ministry
From 1945 to 1955, Dan was stationed at at St. Anthony Friary in Butler, N.J., where he taught the clerics and assisted in the parish. During that time, he received his master’s degree in English from St. Bonaventure University and was appointed director of clerics.
In 1955, he was assigned to St. Bonaventure, where he taught freshman English for one year, then resumed teaching philosophy and history. In the summer of 1961, he was assigned procurator to Holy Name College. He returned to the classroom in 1964, this time at Siena College in Loudonville, N.Y., to teach philosophy and also served as procurator.
He was assigned to St. Stephen’s Parish, Croghan, N.Y., in 1969, to care for the mission churches of St. Vincent’s in Belfort and St. Anthony’s in Indian River. However, after serving there for just several months, he was reassigned to the faculty and administration at St. Bonaventure University.
Over his years at the university, Dan held numerous non-teaching positions, including residence director, dean of men, coordinator of freshman students and academic councilor. He also served for 30 years as SBU’s National Alumni Board chaplain.
In 1990, he retired from teaching and moved to the campus ministry team at Mt. Irenaeus Franciscan Mountain Retreat in West Clarksville, where he interacted formally and informally with students who visited Mt. Irenaeus.
Funeral Services
A wake was held at St. Bonaventure University Chapel on March 17, with a wake service presided by Kevin Kriso, OFM. Following the March 18 Mass of Christian Burial, Dan’s body was interred at St. Bonaventure Cemetery in Allegany.
Dan, predeceased by his two sisters and three brothers, is survived by his sister-in-law, Mrs. Charles (Mary) Hurley and 13 nieces and nephews: Ann McKenna, Jane Thomas, Peggy Reilly, Kathleen Kittleman, Eileen McAvoy, Betty Ann Sobol, Mary Helen Stuart, Maripat Pilcher, and Richard, John, Robert, Stephen, and Charles Hurley. Condolences may be sent to Charles Hurley, 2070 Rusty Pine Lane, Liverpool NY 13090.
Tributes to Dan appear on the Facebook page of Mt. Irenaeus.