Obituary Overview
Father Gerald E. “Gerry” Byrne
BYRNE, REVEREND FATHER GERALD EDWARD
Father Gerald Byrne died peacefully at Providence Manor, Kingston, Ontario, on May 23, 2018, in his 87th year. He was born in Read, Ontario, on January 1, 1932, the son of John Joseph Byrne and Mary Kathleen Haig. He attended Read Elementary and Continuation Schools, and St. Michael’s and Belleville Collegiate in Belleville. He entered St. Augustine’s Seminary, Toronto, in 1951, and was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Kingston on May 4, 1958, at St. John the Apostle Church in Kingston. From 1958-1967, he served as Chaplain at Hotel Dieu Hospital, Kingston. In 1967, he was appointed Pastor of St. Laurence O’Toole Parish, Spencerville, and St. Theresa, North Augusta, where he served until 1974. For the next five years, he did retreat work with Movement for a Better World. In 1979, he was appointed Pastor of St. John the Evangelist Parish, Flinton, and St. Kilian, Ardoch, and, in 1984, he was appointed Pastor of St. Patrick Parish, Railton, and St. Mary, Odessa, where he served until his retirement for health reasons in 1998. For the next 15 years, Father Gerry assisted his brother, Father Leo Byrne, in the parish of St. Paul the Apostle, Kingston. During his priesthood, which spanned a full 60 years, he served as Chaplain for the Sisters of Providence at their Motherhouse in Kingston; for the residents of Providence Manor in Kingston; for Canadian Forces, Kingston; and for the inmates of the Kingston, Millhaven, Frontenac, and Pittsburgh Correctional Institutions.
Father Byrne will be greatly missed by his family, Robert Byrne (Flo) of Oshawa; Sheila Toner (the late Patrick) of Tweed; Father Leo Byrne of Kingston; Larry Byrne (Margaret) of Belleville; and Mary Pat Byrne of Kingston, and many nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews and their families. He is fondly remembered by the many people whose lives he touched throughout his ministry.
Visitation at Gordon F. Tompkins Funeral Home, 435 Davis Drive (Centennial Dr. and Taylor-Kidd Blvd.) on Friday, May 25, 2018, from 2 p.m. until 8 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial at St. Paul the Apostle Parish, 1111 Taylor-Kidd Blvd., on Saturday, May 26, 2018, at 1:30 p.m. Reception immediately following the Mass. Rite of Committal with Prayers at St. Charles Borromeo Cemetery, Read, on Saturday, May 26, 2018, at 5:00 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to the Partners in Mission Food Bank, Kingston, or the UHKF Redevelopment of Providence Manor Fund would be appreciated.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Reverend Father Gerald Edward Gerry Byrne 2018.source
Death notice for the town of: Kingston, Province: Ontario
Your days with us were very few, Father Gerry, but you touched many a life while here and made such a difference.