Obituary

Rev. Robert N. Kelleher, age 77, of Gloucester formerly of Brockton and Melrose, died peacefully November 18, 2011 at St. Patrick Manor in Framingham. He was born in Melrose in 1934 son of the late Neil A. and Mary F. (Sullivan) Kelleher. He was educated in Melrose and graduated from Malden Catholic High School in 1951. Following graduation he entered the former Cardinal O’Connell Seminary. He then entered St. John’s Seminary and was ordained February 2, 1959. His first parish assignment was St. John’s Church in Peabody and in 1968 was assigned to Sacred Heart Church in East Boston. He attended Fordham University to receive his masters in religious education. Fr. Kelleher served in the Religious Education office of the Archdiocese of Boston from 1970-1982 and from 1982-2000 was the pastor of St. Edward Church in Brockton, now St. Edith Stein Parish. After leaving St. Edward Church he served on the Emergency Response Team for several years. Father Kelleher was an avid reader and enjoyed time spent at the ocean. He is survived by his cousins John Sullivan,Marie Kelleher and the late Joseph Reiner.

A Mass of the Resurrection will be concelebrated in St. Edith Stein Parish, 71 East Main Street, Brockton, Tuesday at 11am. Burial in Wyoming Cemetery, Melrose. Father Kelleher will lie in state in St. Edith Stein Parish Monday 4-7pm. Donations in Fr. Kelleher’s name may be made to St. Edith Stein Parish, 71 East Main Street, Brockton, MA 02301.