The wake for Father Thomas V. O’Donnell, senior priest, retired, will begin with vespers at 3 p.m. June 7 in Holy Name Church, 8328 Broadway Ave., Cleveland. Bishop Edward Malesic will preside and Msgr. Richard Antall, Holy Name Parish pastor, will be the homilist. The wake will continue until 8 p.m.
Auxiliary Bishop Michael Woost will celebrate Father O’Donnell’s funeral Mass at 11 a.m. June 8 in Holy Name Church. Father Thomas Haren will be the homilist.
Father O’Donnell, 88, died on June 2.
He was born April 23, 1936 to the late Neil and Loretta (Bruyea) O’Donnell.
Father O’Donnell was educated at St. Luke School and St. Edward High School, both in Lakewood; John Carroll University, University Heights; Oberlin College, Oberlin; Borromeo Seminary, Wickliffe; and Saint Mary Seminary, Cleveland.
Bishop Clarence Issenmann ordained him to the priesthood for service to the Diocese of Cleveland on May 20, 1967 in the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist.
After ordination, Father O’Donnell was assigned as parochial vicar of St. Clare Parish in Lyndhurst. During this assignment, he was appointed to teach music at Saint Mary Seminary effective Sept. 30, 1968. On Sept. 30, 1969, he was transferred to serve as parochial vicar at Our Lady of Peace Parish in Cleveland. Effective June 17, 1970, he was assigned as a full-time faculty member at Saint Mary Seminary with residence at Our Lady of Peace. During this assignment, he served on the diocesan Commission on Sacred Liturgy, effective July 16, 1971, and he was named diocesan director of music/moderator of the diocesan Commission for Sacred Music, effective July 7, 1974. Father O’Donnell was appointed associate director for the Office for Pastoral Liturgy on Sept. 15, 1978.
On June 30, 1982, Father O’Donnell was appointed parochial vicar of St. Henry Parish in Cleveland, where he served until he was named pastor of Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in Cleveland on May 2, 1983.
Father O’Donnell was named pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Cleveland on June 28, 1984. During this assignment, he also served as chaplain, Brentwood and Meridia Suburban Hospitals, effective Aug. 15, 1989, and chaplain, Metro Health Medical Center in Cleveland, effective Aug. 6, 1992.
On Nov. 1, 1977, Father O’Donnell was named pastor of Holy Name Parish in Cleveland. During this assignment, he served as presbyteral convener of the Cleveland Southeast District 1998-2007, he was a member of the College of Consultors 2000-2008, he was district chairperson for the Cleveland Southeast District 2003-2005 and he served as a member at-large of Presbyteral Council 2005-2008.
Father O’Donnell was named chaplain, Knights of Columbus, Moses Cleaveland, on July 27, 2010.
He retired on June 30, 2011.
Those who knew him said Father O’Donnell would be remembered for his gentle and kind disposition, his great love of the priesthood, his love for music and liturgy, his smile and his great laugh. They said he was a joyful, faithful and generous priest and servant of the Lord.
Interment will be at Holy Cross Cemetery, Brook Park.