The wake for Father Thomas A. McGovern will begin with vespers at 3 p.m. May 18 in St. Matthew Church, 2603 Benton Ave., Akron, and will continue until 8 p.m. Bishop Edward Malesic will preside at vespers and Father G. Michael Williamson will be the homilist.
The funeral Mass, at 11 a.m. May 19 in St. Matthew Church, will be celebrated by Bishop Martin Amos, retired bishop of Davenport, Iowa. Homilist will be Father Paul Rosing.
Father McGovern, 88, died on May 13.
He was born to the late Robert and Frances (Curtis) McGovern on Oct. 12, 1932. Father McGovern was educated at St. Martha School and St. Vincent High School, both in Akron; St. Charles College Seminary in Baltimore, Maryland; and Saint Mary Seminary in Cleveland. On May 24, 1958 in the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, he was ordained to the priesthood for service to the Diocese of Cleveland by Archbishop Edward Hoban.
His first assignment was as parochial vicar at St. Luke Parish in Lakewood. On June 8, 1961, he was transferred to St. Sebastian Parish in Akron to serve as parochial vicar. He was assigned as parochial vicar of Holy Cross Parish in Euclid on June 13, 1963, serving there until Oct. 16, 1968, when he was assigned as parochial vicar at Assumption Parish in Broadview Heights.
Father McGovern was assigned as parochial vicar at St. Mel Parish in Cleveland on July 5, 1973. In addition, he served as a member of the Board of Deputies for Temporal Affairs, effective Dec. 29, 1975, and as chaplain for the Knights of Columbus, Akron Council 547, effective Aug. 5, 1976.
On May 11, 1976, he was named pastor of St. Peter Parish in Akron. During that assignment, he served as chaplain for the Serra Club, Akron, effective June 15, 1978, and as moderator of the Council of Priests, effective Sept. 24, 1985 until September 1989.
Father McGovern was named pastor of St. Bede the Venerable Parish in Mentor on Aug. 12, 1986. He became pastor of St. Matthew Parish in Akron on June 28. 1988. During this assignment, he served as a member of Presbyteral Council 1993-1999 and as a member of the College of Consultors 1995-2000.
Father McGovern retired on Oct. 14, 2002, and was named pastor emeritus of St. Matthew Parish in Akron. After retirement, he served as a retired priest on the Presbyteral Council 2012-2015.
Those who knew him said Father McGovern was a faithful priest who enjoyed priestly ministry and service to the people entrusted to his care. They said his quick wit and dry humor would be missed by many.
Interment will be at Holy Cross Cemetery in Akron.