Rev. Kenneth Feehan, S.V.D., (Divine Word Missionaries), age 79, died, Monday evening, July 26, 2010, in Boston at the St. Elizabeth Medical Center, after a lengthy illness. Born in Middletown Springs, VT, Fr. Ken was the devoted son of the late Margaret (Gallant) & John Francis Feehan.
Fr. Ken began his schooling in Lowell, MA at Immaculate Conception School until the 7th grade. In 1945 he entered St. Francis School, Miramar, located in Duxbury, MA to begin his studies for the priesthood. Fr. Ken was ordained on March 29, 1959 at their major seminary in Techny, Illinois and in 1961 he received a B.A. & M.A. in Secondary School Administration from the Catholic University in Washington, DC. Later in 1961 Fr. Ken was appointed to New Guinea to begin his missions.
Fr. Ken's first appointment in New Guinea was as a headmaster at Malala Central Primary School at Alexishafen from 1961-1966. He became director of the Divine Word Secondary School from 1967-1980, which was located in Madang, New Guinea. In 1980 he began his work at Wewak Parish, eventually becoming the business manager of the diocese until 1998. In 2001 Fr. Ken finally returned to the United States and was eventually assigned back home here in Boston.
Fr. Ken was the loving brother of Gilbert F. Feehan and his wife Josephine of Lowell, Alton B. Feehan and his wife Jean Elizabeth of Nashua, NH, Dr. Hubert Feehan of New York City and the late Ethel Goscila Richards. Also survived by many loving nieces and nephews.
Fr. Ken will lie in state at St. Joseph Church, 100 Washington St. Woburn, Thursday, July 29, 5 thru 8. Mass of Christian Burial in St. Joseph Church, Friday at 10 AM. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend. Interment will be at St. Mary Cemetery, Techny, IL.
It has been requested that in lieu of flowers memorial contributions be made in Fr. Ken's name, for his New Guinea mission to: Divine Word Mission Center, c/o Bro. Dennis Newton, S.V. D., 1835 Waukegan Rd., P.O. Box 6099, Techny, IL 60082-6099. Arrangements by McLaughlin-Dello Russo Funeral Service of Woburn, dellorusso.net.