Catholic Obituary Examples and Wording

Mary Catherine (Fitzpatrick) O'Brien, 84, of Boston, Massachusetts, passed away peacefully on February 3, 2026, at Massachusetts General Hospital, fortified by the Sacraments of Holy Mother Church.

Mary was born on December 8, 1941 — the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, a coincidence she considered a blessing — in South Boston to Patrick and Bridget Fitzpatrick. She attended Gate of Heaven School and graduated from South Boston High School in 1959.

She married Thomas J. O'Brien on September 14, 1963, at Gate of Heaven Church. Together they raised five children in the same neighborhood where they both grew up, a fact that surprised no one who knew their devotion to South Boston.

Mary worked as a secretary at Boston Edison for 20 years before retiring to focus on her grandchildren, her parish, and her garden — roughly in that order, though the garden might have edged ahead some summers. She was a lifelong parishioner of Gate of Heaven Church, where she served as a Eucharistic minister, led the Altar and Rosary Society, and organized the annual Christmas bazaar for 15 years. She attended daily Mass whenever her health allowed, and even when it didn't, she watched on television and followed along with her well-worn missal.

She had a particular devotion to the Blessed Mother and prayed the rosary every evening. Her children recall falling asleep to the quiet sound of her rosary beads clicking from the next room.

Mary was known for her brown bread, her sharp wit, and her unwavering belief that there was nothing prayer and a cup of Barry's tea couldn't fix. She could not abide self-pity, bad grammar, or the designated hitter rule.

She is survived by her children, Thomas Jr. (Karen), Patrick (Colleen), Bridget (Michael) Sullivan, Kathleen (John) Mahoney, and Sean O'Brien; fourteen grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and her sister, Agnes Fitzpatrick Murphy. She was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas, in 2020, and her brother, John Fitzpatrick.

Visiting hours will be held Thursday, February 6, from 4:00–8:00 p.m. at O'Brien Funeral Home, 146 Dorchester St., South Boston. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated Friday, February 7, at 10:00 a.m. at Gate of Heaven Church, 615 E. Fourth St., South Boston. Burial at New Calvary Cemetery, Mattapan.

In lieu of flowers, Mass intentions may be offered at Gate of Heaven Church, or donations may be made to Catholic Charities of Boston.

Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her.

Joseph Anthony Deluca, 79, of Providence, Rhode Island, entered eternal life on January 25, 2026, surrounded by his loving family.

Joe was born on March 19, 1946 — the Feast of St. Joseph, his patron saint — in Providence, to Salvatore and Rosa Deluca. He grew up on Federal Hill, where he learned to cook from his mother, argue from his father, and play bocce from everyone else.

He graduated from La Salle Academy in 1964 and served in the U.S. Navy from 1965 to 1969. He married Angela Maria Ricci on October 10, 1970, at Holy Ghost Church. They were married for 55 years, during which Joe claimed to have won approximately zero arguments and to have been perfectly happy about it.

Joe owned and operated Deluca's Bakery on Atwells Avenue for 38 years. He made the bread his father taught him to make, and he made it exactly the same way every morning at 4 a.m. He was a fourth-degree Knight of Columbus and a member of Holy Ghost Church, where he ushered at the 9:00 a.m. Mass for over 30 years. His faith was woven into everything — he crossed himself before every meal, kept a holy water font by the front door, and never let a grandchild leave the house without a blessing and a bag of biscotti.

He is survived by his wife, Angela; his children, Salvatore (Maria) Deluca, Christina (Paul) Esposito, and Anthony (Jennifer) Deluca; eight grandchildren; his sister, Teresa (Frank) Mancini; and far too many cousins to list, though they all expect to be mentioned. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Michael Deluca.

A Rosary Vigil will be held Monday, January 28, at 7:00 p.m. at Nardolillo Funeral Home, 1278 Park Ave., Cranston. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Tuesday, January 29, at 10:00 a.m. at Holy Ghost Church, 472 Atwells Ave., Providence. Interment at St. Ann Cemetery, Cranston.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to La Salle Academy's scholarship fund or Holy Ghost Church.

May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

Rose Marie Nguyen (née Trần), 72, of San Jose, California, was called home to God on February 10, 2026, after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer.

Born on August 15, 1953, in Saigon, Vietnam, Rose immigrated to the United States in 1975 with her husband, Peter Nguyen, and their infant son. They arrived in San Jose with almost nothing and built a life through hard work, faith, and the support of their parish community at St. Patrick's Church.

Rose worked as a seamstress and later as a quality inspector at a semiconductor company. She raised three children, cared for her aging parents, and never missed Sunday Mass. She prayed the rosary daily, kept a small altar in her home with a statue of Our Lady of La Vang, and believed firmly that God had carried her family from Vietnam to California for a reason.

She is survived by her husband, Peter; her children, David (Lisa), Maria (Andrew) Walsh, and Thomas Nguyen; seven grandchildren; and her brother, Father Francis Trần of the Diocese of Orange. She was preceded in death by her parents.

Visitation Thursday, February 13, 5:00–8:00 p.m., with rosary at 7:00 p.m., at Lima Family Funeral Home, 466 N. Winchester Blvd., San Jose. Mass of Christian Burial Friday, February 14, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Patrick's Church, 389 E. Santa Clara St., San Jose. Burial at Oak Hill Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, Mass intentions may be offered at St. Patrick's Church, or donations made to Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County.

Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord. May she rest in peace. Amen.