Brother Thomas O’Neill, OSF, a member of the Franciscan Brothers of Brooklyn for 52 years, died Dec. 29 at Queen of Peace Residence, Queens Village, after a long illness. Born and raised in Greenpoint, he attended St. Anthony’s Grammar School, St. Francis College, St. John’s University, and Fordham University.

He received the habit in 1956 and was professed in 1958 and began his teaching career at St. Francis Xavier, Park Slope. During the next 10 years, he taught at St. Brigid, Ridgewood; Our Lady of Angels, Bay Ridge; and Notre Dame, New Hyde Park.

In 1968, he was assigned to St. Francis Prep, Northside, and was named assistant principal in 1973.

In 1979, he became the campus minister at St. Francis College, Downtown Brooklyn. During that same period, he was a counselor in the financial aid office. In 1985, he was named director of financial aid. Later, he served as director of the study abroad programs.

Sister Loretta Graham, CSJ, 89, a member of the Sisters of St. Joseph, Brentwood, for 67 years died Jan. 8, in Maria Regina Residence, Brentwood.

She entered the congregation in 1942 from Sacred Heart, Brooklyn, and ministered in St. Joseph H.S., Brooklyn, 1944-45; St. Joseph College, Brooklyn, as registrar’s assistant, 1945; Sacred Heart Seminary, Hempstead, 1945-46; St. Francis Xavier, Park Slope, 1946-48; St. Teresa of Avila, Crown Heights, 1948-55; Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Long Island City, 1955-57; St. Michael, Flushing, 1957-62: Our Lady of Perpetual Help H.S., Sunset Park, 1962-66; St. Joseph H.S., Brooklyn; 1966-72; Cure of Ars, Merrick, as librarian, 1972-80; and diocesan media coordinator for Rockville Centre, 1980-92. 

She retired in 1992. 
 

Sister Mary Gately, SC, a Sister of Charity, Halifax, for 74 years, died Dec. 31 at Elizabeth Seton Residence, Wellesley, Mass. She was 93.

Formerly Sister Francis Magdalen, she served in New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Delaware.

Locally, she taught at Our Lady of Angels, Bay Ridge, 1934-35; served as superior and principal at St. Sebastian’s, Woodside, 1943-49; superior and principal at Our Lady of Angels, 1949-55; and taught at Bishop Reilly H.S., now St. Francis Prep, 1964-71.

She served as a core member for Women Helping Women, a shelter for abused women, 1981-90, and lived at Resurrection-Ascension Convent, Rego Park. She also served the Sisters of Charity of the Brooklyn and Rockville Centre dioceses in a leadership capacity as personnel director and provincial board member.

Sister Mary Rosareen Duggan, OP, a member of the Sisters of St. Dominic, Amityville, for 61 years, died Jan. 7. She was 80.

Born in Brooklyn, she was a member of St. Patrick’s parish, Bay Ridge, when she entered the order in 1946. Before entering, she worked for a short time in an office.

She taught from 1948 to 1974 at Our Lady of Guadalupe, Bensonhurst; Our Lady of Solace, Coney Island; Our Lady of Lourdes, Malverne; Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Lindenhurst; and St. John, Riverhead.

From 1978 until 2001, she worked in the billing department of Catholic Medical Center at Mary Immaculate Hospital, Jamaica. She resided at Parsons Manor with the sisters who ministered at the hospital.

In 2001, she retired to Rosary Hall, Amityville.

She is survived by her sister, Mary Ann Hamilton, of East Quogue, L.I.

A memorial Mass was celebrated Jan. 13, at St. Francis Prep Chapel, Fresh Meadows, for Brother Michael Russo, OSF, who died on Dec. 11. He was 68.

Brother Michael is survived by his brothers, Joseph, of Middle Village, and Anthony, of Florida, and their families.

Born in Brooklyn on April 23, 1939, he graduated from St. Brigid’s Grammar School, Ridgewood, before entering the Franciscan Brothers Juniorate in Smithtown.
He received the Franciscan habit and the religious name “Ernest” on Aug. 2, 1958 and made his profession of vows on Aug. 2, 1960.

He taught at St. Patrick’s, Kent Ave., 1960-62; Our Lady of Lourdes, Bushwick, 1962-64; and St. Joseph’s, Babylon, 1965-69.

When given the option in 1969, he chose the religious name “Michael.” The following year he was assigned to St. Anthony’s H.S., Smithtown, and began working in the areas of alumni and development.

He returned to Brooklyn and became director of development at Bishop Ford H.S., Park Slope, 1976-81. He moved to Syracuse, in 1981 to become the alumnae director at Maria Regina College for five years.

In 1986, he became the director of alumni relations at St. Francis College, Brooklyn Heights, until his retirement in 1999. During his retirement years, Brother Michael lived in Melbourne, Fla., until ill health necessitated his return to New York.

A Mass of Christian Burial for Anthony Massie, the father of Msgr. Guy Massie, pastor of St. Andrew the Apostle parish, Bay Ridge, was celebrated Jan. 15 at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, Williamsburg. He died Jan. 11.
Burial was in St. John’s Cemetery, Middle Village.

Sister Mary Benedicta Fisher, OP, a member of the Sisters of St. Dominic, Amityville, for 59 years, died Jan. 14. She was 84.

She taught at St. Patrick’s, Bay Ridge; All Saints, Williamsburg; Cure of Ars, Merrick, L.I.; and Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Lindenhurst.

A talented artist, in the 1980s she was stationed at the motherhouse in Amityville where she was part of a team that refurbished the paintings, statues and the chapel.

She worked with diocesan television in Rockville Centre from 1971 to 1975. She also taught in Puerto Rico and in schools for Indians in South Dakota and New Mexico and also worked as a receptionist and did outreach in St. Catherine of Sienna, Franklin Square.

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