Obituary for Father Thomas Walsh
Columban Father Thomas Walsh, 88 died on Wednesday morning on March 17, 2021 at his residence. Father Walsh was born on January 12, 1933, the son of the late Thomas Michael and Mary ()’Connor) Walsh in Watertown, MA. He attended parish schools and Matignon High School in North Cambridge, MA., before beginning his studies at the Columban Father’s Seminary in Milton, MA. in September of 1948.
He was ordained on December 21, 1957 at St. Columban;s Major Seminary Chapel by Bishop Jeremiah F. Minihan, Auxiliary Bishop of Boston. He was appointed to Korea in the spring of 1958 and in 1959 he was assigned to the Diocese of Chunchon and sent to Hoengsong Parish.
At the end of 1960 he returned to the United States in ill health.
After appointments in the United States Region in Silver Creek, Brooklyn, and Derby, N.Y.,
Milton, MA. And the Virgin Islands. Father Walsh received permission to join the united States Army Chaplin Corps. Over the next 20 years in served troops in places as diverse as Arizona, Alaska, Germany, Hawaii, New Jersey and Korea.
Having completed his time in the military, he attended the Pacific Mission Institute course at Turramurra, Australia. In 1991, after which he began a new mission assignment in Chile, where remained until his retirement in 2004. He has been a resident at St. Columban’s on the Lake for the last 16 years.
Father Walsh is survived by his sister, Joan Bunker; her children: David Bunker and Catherine Roche; also survived by nieces, nephews and many cousins in America and Ireland, including Maureen Tighe. In addition to his parents, he is predeceased by his sister, Marie Forristall and his brother, Father John Walsh.
The Columban Fathers and the community at St. Columban’s on the Lake, will miss Father Walsh and know he will be enjoying the fullness of God’s presence. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday March 24, 2021 at St. Columbans on the Lake at 9:30 am. Interment will be on the St. Columban’s on the Lake grounds. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Columban Father’s, 1902 Calhoun St., St. Columbans, NE 68056.
He was ordained on December 21, 1957 at St. Columban;s Major Seminary Chapel by Bishop Jeremiah F. Minihan, Auxiliary Bishop of Boston. He was appointed to Korea in the spring of 1958 and in 1959 he was assigned to the Diocese of Chunchon and sent to Hoengsong Parish.
At the end of 1960 he returned to the United States in ill health.
After appointments in the United States Region in Silver Creek, Brooklyn, and Derby, N.Y.,
Milton, MA. And the Virgin Islands. Father Walsh received permission to join the united States Army Chaplin Corps. Over the next 20 years in served troops in places as diverse as Arizona, Alaska, Germany, Hawaii, New Jersey and Korea.
Having completed his time in the military, he attended the Pacific Mission Institute course at Turramurra, Australia. In 1991, after which he began a new mission assignment in Chile, where remained until his retirement in 2004. He has been a resident at St. Columban’s on the Lake for the last 16 years.
Father Walsh is survived by his sister, Joan Bunker; her children: David Bunker and Catherine Roche; also survived by nieces, nephews and many cousins in America and Ireland, including Maureen Tighe. In addition to his parents, he is predeceased by his sister, Marie Forristall and his brother, Father John Walsh.
The Columban Fathers and the community at St. Columban’s on the Lake, will miss Father Walsh and know he will be enjoying the fullness of God’s presence. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday March 24, 2021 at St. Columbans on the Lake at 9:30 am. Interment will be on the St. Columban’s on the Lake grounds. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Columban Father’s, 1902 Calhoun St., St. Columbans, NE 68056.