SHREWSBURY/SPENCER; Rev. James F. Hoey, 79, of 35 Julio Dr., Shrewsbury, died Thursday, April 5 in St. Vincent Hospital, Worcester on his 79th. birthday.
He was the former pastor of Mary, Queen of the Rosary Parish in Spencer for 20 years prior to his retirement in 2016.
Fr. Jim, was born in Worcester, the son of Robert V. and Marion R. (Bowker) Hoey and graduated from the former St. Peter's High School in Worcester, and later attended Holy Cross College in Worcester. Then, realizing his call to the priesthood, he attended St. John's Seminary in Brighton where he received his Master's Degree in 1965. He was ordained into the priesthood on Feb. 13, 1965 at St. Paul's Cathedral in Worcester by Bishop Bernard J. Flanagan.
On March 1, 1965, Fr. Jim was named assistant at Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Gardner, assistant at St. Anne's Parish in Shrewsbury from 1969 to 1976. He became associate pastor at St. Mary's of the Hills in Boylston in 1976, temporary administrator of St. Theresa's Parish in Harvard in 1976, associate pastor at St. Joseph's Parish in Auburn in 1977 and associate pastor at St. Joseph's Parish in Worcester in 1977-81. He was associate pastor at St. Mary's Parish in Sutton 1981-82 and became pastor at St. Theresa's Parish in Harvard from 1982-88. He was named pastor at Our Lady of the Lake in Leominster from 1988-96 and pastor at Mary, Queen of the Rosary Parish in Spencer in 1996 until his retirement in 2016. After his retirement, Fr. Jim has been assisting at St. John's Church in Worcester. He also was Chaplain at St. Mary's School and assisted at Our Lady of Czestochowa in Worcester.
Fr. Jim leaves his best friends, Paul and Irene Bleau of West Boylston and their family; his cousins: David and Michael Hoey of Worcester, Elizabeth McDonough of Shrewsbury, John Burke of Clinton, and Kathy Hoey of W.Springfield, Mary Ann Derzius of Westminster, Patricia Lefebvre of Leominster, Kathleen Kiernan of Florida ,Virginia Danachaud, Mary Jane Gellani of Marion, Richard Danachaud of New Jersey, Carol Kelleher of Georgia, Dan Grady of Maryland, Timothy Hoey, and Margerite Flatley of Manchester-by-the Sea.
His funeral Mass will be held on Thursday, April 12 at 11 a.m. in Our Lady of the Rosary Church, 7 Church St., Spencer with Bishop Robert J. McManus presiding.Burial will follow in St. John's Cemetery, Worcester. Calling hours at Our Lady of the Rosary Church are Wednesday, April 11 from 3 to 7 pm. when the Vigil Prayer Service will begin.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to either St. John's Food for the Poor, 40 Temple St., Worcester, 01604 or Mary, Queen of the Rosary Food Pantry, 60 Maple St., Spencer, Ma. 01562. The J.HENRI MORIN & SON FUNERAL HOME, 23 Maple Terr., Spencer is directing arrangements for the family.