Born: 05 May 1929, Kill, Castlecomer, County Kilkenny
Entered: 07 September 1953, St Mary's, Emo, County Laois
Ordained: 29 July 1965, Milltown Park, Dublin
Died: 18 August 2013, Mercy Retirement Center in Oakland, CA, USA
Left Society of Jesus: 03 October 1968
Parents William and Eileen (O’Toole) were National Teachers. Family lived at St Alphonsus' Road, Drumcondra. Mother died in 1968
Oldest of two boys with three sisters.
Early education at Clogh NS, County Kilkenny and then with the Christian Brothers in Carlow.
After school he went into Pharmacy for 5.5 years, qualifying as an Assistant in 1953.
Baptised at St Patrick’s, Clogh, County Kilkenny, 05/05/1929
Confirmed at St Patrick’s, Clogh, County Kilkenny, by Dr Collier of Ossory, 14/04/1941
Left 05/10/1968, entered Capuchin’s and took vows in 04/10/1969. Known as “Father James”.
1953-1955: St Mary's, Emo, Novitiate
1955-1959: St Stanislaus College, Tullabeg, Philosophy
1959-1961: Belvedere College SJ, Regency
1961-1962: Clongowes Wood College SJ, Regency
1962-1966: Milltown Park, Theology
1966-1967: Rathfarnham Castle, Tertianship
1967-1968: St Mary’s, Choma, Zambia
1968: On supply at the Jesuit Church of Sacred Heart, Lauriston Street, Edinburgh, and then came to Manresa House Dollymount.
After leaving and taking Vows in the Capuchins, he had worked at St Brendan’s Hospital and was living and working at St Mary of the Angels, Church Street.
Address 2000: Old Mission Santa Ines, Mission Drive, Solvang, CA, USA
https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/sfgate/name/edward-o-keefe-obituary?id=9716767
Edward O'Keefe Obituary
Fr Edward O'Keefe
Was born on May 5, 1929 in Kill, Castlecomer, Co. Kilkenny, Ireland, the son of William O'Keefe and Eileen O'Toole. He entered the Jesuit Order and made first profession at Emo, Port Arlington, Ireland in 1955. He was ordained at Milltown Park, Dublin in 1965 and was sent to the Jesuit Mission at Zambia Africa in 1967. His first contact with the Capuchins came on the banks of the Zambezi River in Central Africa. He was welcomed by the Capuchins and had frequent contact with them during the year. As a result he felt drawn to join the Capuchins; and so he did in the following year of 1968. He returned to Ireland and made his novitiate year. In 1969 he was solemnly professed and remained in Ireland as a Chaplain and ministering in giving parish missions and retreats.
In 1974 he came to Our Lady of Angels in Burlingame, CA as associate pastor.
From 1974 to 1981 he was assigned as a hospital chaplain in Fresno, CA. He also was actively involved in Marriage and Engaged Encounter retreats and the Focolare movement.
In 1981 he was associate pastor in Hermiston, Oregon.
In 1985 to 1987 he was associate pastor at St Francis Parish in Los Angeles and from 1988 to 1991 was associate pastor at St Francis of Assisi Parish in Bend, OR.
From 1991 to 1998 he was Pastor at St Lawrence of Brindisi Parish Watts, Los Angeles
1999 to 2000 he was associate pastor at Old Mission Santa Ines in Solvang, CA.
In 2000, he once again felt called to go out into the mission field. This time he went to our Mexico mission in Monterrey as guardian of the student community.
In 2010, it became obvious that Fr Ed was rapidly declining in health with Alzheimer's disease and he retired to Mercy Care and Retirement Center in Oakland, CA. After ministering so many years in so many different places Fr. Ed could no longer minister to others but in his silent prayer.
In June of 2013 Fr. Ed began to lose weight and in August he could barely eat anything. Fr. Ed died at 12:10 pm in the afternoon of the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Mother at Mercy Retirement Center in Oakland, CA. He was 84 years old.
He is survived by his sister Noreen O'Keefe and his brother Gerard O'Keefe and his sister Frances Glavin.
His funeral arrangements are as follows: Rosary at 7:30 pm at Old Mission Santa Ines in Solvang, CA on August 18, 2013 and Funeral Mass at 11 am also at Old Mission Santa Ines on August 19, 2013. Burial following the Mass at San Lorenzo Friary in Santa Ynez, CA.
