St. Gianna
Molla’s
husband dies at 97
MESERO, Italy (CNS) — Pietro Molla, the widower of St. Gianna
Beretta Molla, died at his home in Mesero April 3 at the age of 97.
In September 2005, on what would have been their 50th wedding anniversary,
the saint’s husband wrote, “I’ve often thought and
said that not even eternity would give me enough time to thank the
Lord for the very unique gift he gave me” in “seeing my
beloved Gianna elevated to the highest honors of the altar.”
The couple had three children when, in late 1961, Gianna — pregnant
with her fourth child — was diagnosed with a uterine tumor.
The couple refused treatment that could have harmed the unborn child.
Gianna Emanuela was born in April 1962 and her mother, a pediatrician,
died one week later of an infection.
Pope John Paul II beatified Gianna in 1994 and proclaimed her a saint
in 2004. Pietro was present at the canonization. |
OBITUARIES
Sister M. Malachy Hannigan, SHF
Sister M. Malachy Hannigan, a Holy Family Sister for 76 years, died at
the Sisters’ Motherhouse in Fremont, March 16. She was 103 years
old.
Born in Donegal, Ireland, Sister Hannigan joined the Holy Family Sisters
from Sacred Heart Parish in Oakland in 1934. For several years she served
in “home ministry” and as cook at Holy Family Day Home and
St. Francis Day Home, both in San Francisco.
When the Sisters moved their convent from San Francisco to Fremont, Sister
Hannigan continued in her ministry as the cook for the Sisters.
She briefly served as an assistant at a parish in Reno, Nevada, and ministered
in catechetic/pastoral service, volunteer ministry and visitation to the
sick and elderly for a short time in Los Angeles.
During her later years, Sister Hannigan spent many hours in pastoral care
ministry at Laguna Honda Hospital and as a volunteer at St. Anthony’s
Dining Room in San Francisco until her retirement in 2002.
In recognition of her culinary skills, her book, “Sister Malachy’s
Pastry Cookbook,” first published in 1971, was republished in 2003.
Survivors include several nieces and nephews.
The funeral Mass was held at the Motherhouse Chapel in Fremont, March
19. Burial followed at Holy Cross Cemetery in Colma. Memorial remembrances
may be made to the Holy Family Day Home, 299 Dolores St., San Francisco,
CA 94103.
Father Thomas W. Hogan, SM
Marianist Father Thomas W. Hogan, a former principal at Alameda’s
St. Joseph’s High School, died March 28 in Cupertino. He was 93
years of age and in the 73rd year of his religious profession.
Born in Cleveland, Ohio, he joined the Society of Mary (Marianists) in
1936. Ordained to the priesthood in 1946, he was a teacher, chaplain and
principal at Marianist schools across the country.
At St. Joseph’s High from 1951 – 1957, he served as principal
and taught religion and social studies. He was also pastor and associate
pastor at parishes in Hawaii. He retired from active ministry in 1999
and moved to Cupertino in 2005.
The funeral Mass was held April 6 at the Marianist Center Chapel in Cupertino.
Burial took place the following day at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Los
Altos.
Sister Mary Eileen Peach, SHF
Sister Mary Eileen Peach, who served at two parishes in the Oakland Diocese,
died March 18 in Fremont. A member of the Sisters of the Holy Family for
68 years, she was 88 years of age.
Sister Peach joined the Holy Family Sisters from Most Holy Name of Jesus
Parish in San Francisco in 1943. During much of her years in religious
life she served as catechetical teacher and principal. This was her role
at St. Lawrence O’Toole Parish and Sacred Heart Parish, both in
Oakland, as well as in the Dioceses of Reno and San Jose and the Archdioceses
of San Francisco and Los Angeles.
She also served at St. Elizabeth’s Day Home in San Jose and at Holy
Family Day Home in San Francisco as a nursery and kindergarten teacher
before embarking in her ministry as a librarian at the Holy Family Day
Home, where she served for 18 years. She retired to the Motherhouse in
Fremont in 2002.
Survivors include her sister, Dorothy Asmus, and several nieces and nephews.
The funeral Mass was held at the Motherhouse Chapel in Fremont, March
22. Burial followed at Holy Cross Cemetery in Colma. Memorial remembrances
may be made to the Sisters of the Holy Family, P.O. Box 3248, Fremont,
CA 94539.
Sister Assunta Vorndran, OP
Sister Assunta Vorndran, a Dominican Sister of Oakford who helped establish
her congregation’s first novitiate in the U.S., died March 16 in
Fremont. She was 88 and had celebrated the 70th anniversary of her religious
profession in September 2009.
Born in Karsbach, Germany, she joined the Oakford Dominican Sisters, an
international missionary congregation based in South Africa, in 1937.
She was one of two Sisters who came to the U.S. in 1955 to begin an Oakford
community at St. Albert’s Priory in Oakland.
She later spent 28 years in ministry to the elderly at Villa Siena in
Mountain View and 10 years in parish ministry in Arizona before moving
to San Leandro in 2008.
In October 2009 she moved to St. Martin’s Care Center with the Dominican
Sisters of Mission San Jose in Fremont where she remained until her death.
The funeral Mass was held March 23 in the chapel at the Dominican Sisters
of Mission San Jose in Fremont. Burial was at Gate of Heaven Cemetery
in Los Altos.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Dominican Sisters of Oakford
(memo: Sr. Assunta Memorial Fund), 980 Woodland Ave., San Leandro, CA
94577, to support ministry to children in South Africa.
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