RINGWOOD, N.J. — Ambrose Donehue, OFM, 90, a professed Franciscan friar for 67 years and a priest for 62 years, died April 19 at Holy Name Friary.
A wake was held April 22 at St. Bernardine of Siena Friary Chapel in Loudonville, N.Y. William Beaudin, OFM, celebrated the Mass of Christian Burial at St. Francis Chapel in Colonie, N.Y., on April 23, with Julian Davies, OFM, delivering the homily. Burial followed at St. Agnes Cemetery, Menands, N.Y.
Early Years
Born on Aug. 23, 1923 to Edward and Mary Donehue, Ambrose was baptized Edward at Maternity Hospital and Infant Home, Albany, N.Y. After graduating in n 1941 from Vincentian Institute High School, he entered Siena College, attending for one year before studying at St. Joseph’s Seraphic Seminary, Callicoon, N.Y., from 1942 to 1945.
Later that year, Ambrose entered the novitiate at St. Bonaventure Friary, Paterson, N.J., professing temporary vows there one year later. He studied philosophy at St. Stephen’s Friary, Croghan, N.Y., and St. Anthony Friary, Butler, N.J., before attending Holy Name College, Washington, for theological studies. Ambrose professed final vows there in 1949 and was ordained in 1951 at the Franciscan Monastery in Washington.
Ministry
Following ordination, Ambrose was assigned to St. Stephen of Hungary Parish in New York City from 1952 to 1953. He then volunteered to be a missionary to Japan, first attending a language school in Tokyo from 1953 to 1954. He served as pastor at parishes in Tomioka, Ota and Kiryu from 1955 to 1971.
After returning to the United States, Ambrose served as chaplain at St. Joseph Hospital and parochial vicar at Incarnation Church, both in Tampa, Fla., from 1972 to 1994. He ministered from 1996 to 1997 at St. Camillus Parish in Silver Spring, Md., before becoming a pastoral associate at St. Francis Chapel, Providence, R.I., from 1997 to 2004. He then returned to his hometown in Albany, where he resided at St. Bernardine of Siena Friary and ministered at St. Francis Chapel. In 2014, he retired to Holy Name Friary.
Ambrose is survived by his sister, Roberta Ryan, nephew, Peter Arend, and niece, Victoria Johnson. Condolences may be addressed to: Mrs. Roberta Ryan, 16 Park Hill, Apt. 11, Albany NY 12204-2221. Memorial donations may be sent to Franciscan Friars-Holy Name Province, 144 West 32nd St., New York NY 10001.
— Compiled by Theresa Bartha and Maria Hayes