Sr. Justin Farinella, OP

Funeral Mass was held Jan. 4 at St. Dominic Villa’s chapel in Houston for Dominican Sister Justin Farinella, 92, who died Dec. 28. She was the founding principal of St. Gregory School in Whittier.

Born in Beaumont, Texas, she entered the Houston Dominican Congregation in 1939 following her high school graduation. Her school ministry took her to parish schools in Texas and California.

In 1987, Sister Farinella co-founded a ministry in Houston for homeless women, Wellsprings, which has served more than 1,000 women since its inception. She was actively involved in Wellsprings until 2005 and continued in a supportive role until her death. Memorial donations may be made to Dominican Sisters Retirement Fund, 6501 Almeda Road, Houston, TX 77021.

Sr. M. Ann Patrice McGinley, CSC

Funeral Mass was held recently in Indiana for Holy Cross Sister M. Ann Patrice McGinley, 101, who died Dec. 29. Her 46 years of hospital ministry included 12 years in pastoral care at Holy Cross Hospital in Mission Hills in the ’80s and early ’90s.

She attended the Holy Cross Hospital School of Nursing in Salt Lake City, Utah, where she first met the Holy Cross Sisters. After working as an RN in a local clinic for six years, she decided to join the Sisters who had trained her and inspired her by their dedication. She entered the congregation in 1940 and, as she described it, “spent the next 46 very happy years in hospital ministry” in the hospitals of the West.

In 1993, Sister McGinley moved to Saint Mary’s in Notre Dame, Indiana, where she continued to serve through the Ministry of Prayer and volunteer service to the community. Memorial contributions can be made to the Sisters of the Holy Cross, Ministry with the Poor, Saint Mary’s, Notre Dame, IN or online at www.cscsisters.org.

Sr. Gilmary Vaughan, OP

Funeral Mass was held Dec. 27 at Queen of the Rosary Chapel in Sinsinawa, Wisconsin for Dominican Sister Gilmary Vaughan, 93, who died Dec. 23. She had been a Dominican Sister for 74 years.

Born in Anaconda, Montana, she made her first religious profession as a Sinsinawa Dominican in 1939. She taught for 28 years, including two years at St. Thomas More in Alhambra (1953-55).

Memorial donations may be made to the Sinsinawa Dominicans, 585 County Road Z, Sinsinawa, WI 53824-9701 or online at www.sinsinawa.org by clicking on “Donate Now,” then “Honor and Memorial Gift.”

Fr. John Rod Keller

Funeral Mass was celebrated recently at St. Bonaventure Church, Huntington Beach, for Father John Rod Keller, senior priest, who died Aug. 3 at age 89.

Born July 12, 1924 in Pasadena, he attended public schools, graduated from Pasadena Junior College in 1943 and then entered the military during World War II, earning a Bronze Star. In 1946 he entered St. John’s Seminary, Camarillo, and was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles in 1954.

Father Keller’s first assignment as an associate pastor was at Santa Clara Church in Oxnard. He served next at Our Lady of Peace, Sepulveda (now North Hills), and in 1967 he was assigned to St. Emydius in Lynwood, as an assistant, then as administrator pro tem.

In 1969 Father Keller returned to Santa Clara before he was assigned to St. Sebastian Church in West Los Angeles and St. Lucy in Long Beach, where he became pastor in 1972. In 1975 he was named pastor of St. Irenaeus Church in Cypress, and remained there for 18 years. 

Father Keller came to St. Bonaventure in 1993 with the title of senior priest. For many years, he continued to oversee the original parish web site and its “Ask Father Rod” page. Last May 5, Father Keller celebrated his 59th anniversary of his ordination.