1924 – 2015

Reverend Joseph E. O’Brien, Retired, Resident, Our Lady of Consolation Parish, Philadelphia, died on Thursday, March 26, 2015.

Father O’Brien was born on July 16, 1924, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is the son of the late Joseph O’Brien and the late Anna Taggart. Father O’Brien attended Saint Monica Parochial School, Philadelphia; Saint John’s Orphanage, Philadelphia; and Saint Thomas More Catholic High School, Philadelphia, before entering Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary.

Father O’Brien was ordained on May 19, 1951 at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, Philadelphia, by Most Reverend Hugh L. Lamb. Father O’Brien served as Parochial Vicar at Saint Elizabeth Parish, Pen Argyl; Saint Ann Parish, Lansford; Saint Catherine of Siena Parish, Reading; Saint Stephen Parish, Port Carbon; Saint Francis of Assisi Parish, Allentown; Saint Anthony of Padua Parish, Ambler; Saint Cecilia Parish, Coatesville; Saint Philomena Parish, Lansdowne; Saint Patrick Parish, Philadelphia; Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, Philadelphia; Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque Parish, Essington: and Saint Leo Parish, Philadelphia. He retired from active ministry in 2002.

The Reception of the Body will be held at Saint Leo Church, Philadelphia, on Tuesday, March 31, 2015, at 9:00AM, followed by a viewing. Most Reverend Michael J. Fitzgerald will celebrate a Funeral Mass for Father O’Brien at 11:00AM. Concelebrating the Funeral Mass will be Reverend Charles E. Bonner, Reverend John J. Farry, Reverend Charles E. Gormley, Reverend Monsignor Thomas J. Kelley and Reverend John T. Lyons. Father Lyons will be the homilist.

Father O’Brien is survived by his nieces and nephews. Interment will be at Holy Cross Cemetery, Yeadon.

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