TEWKSBURY—Rev. Lawrence Peter Deery, OMI, 94, died at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Residence in Tewksbury, Massachusetts on November 23, 2009 after many years of declining health. He was born on May 29, 1915 in Pawtucket, RI and was the son of the late James and Mary (McFarland) Deery and one of eight children.
Fr. Deery entered the novitiate of the Missionary Oblates in 1935 and professed his first vows on September 8, 1935 in Tewksbury, MA. His perpetual vows were professed on September 8, 1938 in Essex, NY. On June 9, 1941 he was ordained to the priesthood in Washington, D.C. by Bishop Owen Corrigan. His first assignment in 1941 was to the Immaculate Conception Parish in Lowell, MA. This would be the first of many parish assignments and, from 1953 on, he was also a member of the Oblate Mission Band working from and assisting at the parishes to which he was assigned. Other parishes he was assigned to were St. Patrick Parish, McCook, NE; St. Bridget's, Indianapolis, IN; Sacred Heart, Lowell, MA; St. Rose of Lima, Warwick, RI; St. Paul's Cranston, RI; and St. Patrick's Harrisville, RI. His final parish assignment was to Immaculate Conception Parish in Lowell. His final assignment, in 1990, was to the Oblate Community in Tewksbury where he remained until his death.
Although Fr. Deery resided and assisted in many Oblate parishes, he is most noted for his years on the mission band. He was a happy man who will be remembered for his kindness and gentleness which were truly inspiring to those whose lives he touched.
The McKenna-Ouellette Funeral Home, 327 Hildreth Street, Lowellwas in charge of arrangements.
Besides his parents, Fr. Deery was predeceased by his brothers Joseph, Eugene, Edward, Frank and James and sisters, Margaret, Catherine and Cecilia. He is survived by two sisters-in-law, Rita Deery of Cranston, RI and Agnes Deery of Narragansett, RI and North Port, FL. He was also a loving uncle to his many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Tuesday, December 1. Burial took place in the Oblate cemetery at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Residence and Infirmary.
