Fr. Daniel O'Shea (1909-2002)

Father Daniel O’Shea passed away July 5, 2002.

Balleyferriter, Dingle, Ireland, was the birthplace of Father Daniel as it was for his uncle, Father Patrick O’Shea, also a member of the community. Nephew follows uncle to St. Benedict’s Abbey. He spent many years of his ministry as a priest-monk as chaplain to sisters; to the Benedictines in Glendora, Calif., and 32 years with the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth. Father Daniel was a Latin teacher both as Principle at Maur Hill and at St. Benedict’s College while Cleric Master at the Abbey. He also achieved a certificate from the School of Spirituality at the Dominican House of Studies in River Forest, Ill., in 1966.

Father Daniel was a “son of the ‘auld sod’”. He loved all things Irish and relished his relatives in Milwaukee and Chicago. His frequent visits to Dingle kept him in touch with his relatives there. His quiet but efficient ways endeared him to his conferees who sang around his deathbed with his encouragement. He was a “clean desk” man who often on a given Sunday afternoon began writing the homily for the following Sunday.