Funeral Mass was held Sept. 21 at Holy Cross Cemetery’s Chapel of the Risen Christ in Culver City for Father John Cooley, 90, retired priest and pastor emeritus of St. Bruno Church in Whittier, who died Sept. 11. Born in Silver City, New Mexico, he attended St. John Chrysostom School, Inglewood, and Cathedral and Mount Carmel High Schools. He completed his theological studies at St. John’s Seminary and was ordained May 1, 1948.Father Cooley served as an associate pastor in several parishes, including St. Emydius, Lynwood; St. Elizabeth, Van Nuys; St. Pius V, Buena Park; St. Genevieve, Panorama City; St. Augustine, Culver City; St. Charles Borromeo, North Hollywood; and St. Alphonsus, Los Angeles.He became administrator of St. Bruno Church in Whittier in 1970 and served 20 years there as pastor from 1973-1993. Father Cooley was living at Nazareth House at the time of his death.
