ANDOVER: Reverend Francis C. O’Hare, age 82, Senior Priest in residence of Saint Robert Bellarmine Parish of West Andover, died Friday, May 9, 2008 at the Saint Robert’s Rectory, following a brief illness.
Born in Boston on May 26, 1925, he was the son of the late James O'Hare, M.D. and Mary (Minton) O’Hare.
Fr. Frank was raised in Boston, attended the Agassiz Elementary School in Jamaica Plain and graduated from Brookline High School and the College of the Holy Cross of Worcester.
In 1943, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy, and served during World War II aboard the U.S.S. Davison. He was awarded several decorations for his military service including the American Theatre Ribbon, the Asiatic Pacific Theatre Ribbon and the World War II Victory Ribbon.
Having completed his seminary studies at the Pontifical North American College in Rome, he was ordained on July 16, 1951, and first served as a curate at Saint Mary of the Assumption in Revere and then at Sacred Heart in Cambridge. He then returned to Rome as Assistant Superior of the Casa Santa Maria (a residence for English speaking priests studying in Rome). Back in this country he served briefly as curate at Saint Mary’s in Dedham and was then named to the faculty of Saint John’s Seminary in Brighton by then Archbishop Cushing. After teaching Moral Theology he became the first Director of Field Education at the seminary. He then served as pastor of Saint Ann’s in Somerville which he established as a teaching parish for the formation of diocesan and Jesuit priests and seminarians. He served as pastor of Saint Athanasius Parish in Reading until his retirement in 1997. He has worked actively in his retirement as Senior Priest in residence at Saint Robert Bellarmine Parish in Andover.
Fr. Frank is survived by his sister, Marguerite “Midge” McCarthy of Natick; two sisters-in-law, Peg O’Hare of Rutland, MA (formerly of Quincy) and Kay O’Hare of Winchester; two brothers-in-law; Edward McCarthy of Natick and Frederick O’Hara of Santa Cruz, CA.; also many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.
Fr. Frank was the brother of the late Mary O’Hara, James and Harry O’Hare.
The reception of Father’s Body will take place on Tuesday, May 13th, at 3 p.m., at St. Robert Bellarmine Church, 198 Haggetts Pond Rd., Andover (for directions see (www.saintroberts.net) Father will then “lie in state” until 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday. Father’s family will be present for visitation on Tuesday from 3:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. when a parish Memorial Mass will be celebrated.
On Wednesday, May 14th, a concelebrated Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m., at St. Robert Bellarmine Church. Interment at Holyhood Cemetery, Brookline. Kindly omit flowers. Donations in his memory may be made to St. Robert Bellarmine Parish, 198 Haggett’s Pond Rd., Andover, MA 01810.