Reverend John D. Silk

In Lowell, August 19, 2008, at D'Youville Senior Care, age 80 of Lowell, Senior Priest of the Archdiocese of Boston, Born in Lowell March 4, 1928, the son of the late Adam F. and late Mary (Cogger) Silk, he attended Lowell Schools, graduate of Keith Academy Class of 1945. In 1951, he was a member of the first graduating class at Merrimack College. A Veteran of Korean Conflict, he served in the US Navy. Fr. Silk then studied for the priesthood at St. John's Seminary in Brighton and was ordained at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Boston on February 2, 1959 by Richard Cardinal Cushing. His first assignment was as an Assistant at St. Jerome Church in Weymouth, until 1963, when he became Chaplain at Holy Ghost Hospital (now Youville Hospital) in Cambridge until 1973. From 1973 to 1979, Fr. Silk was an Assistant at St. Joseph Church in Belmont then to St. Margaret Church in Burlington and St. Camillis in Arlington, until 1985, when he was appointed the Pastor of St. Mary Church in Wrentham. In 1988, he served at the Immaculate Conception Church in Newburyport and then at St. Joseph Church (Holy Family) in Amesbury until 2004. Fr. Silk enjoyed golfing, travelling and "Big Band" music. He is survived by a sister Mary C. McInerney and her husband Walter of North Chelmsford; a brother James F. Silk of Lowell; four nieces Patricia Kelley of Pelham, NH, Susan Silkof Lowell, Ann Taylor, both of Lowell and Mary McGeown of Dracut; five nephews James D. Silk of Bethesda, MD, John F. Silk of Chelmsford, William J. Silk of Lowell, Joseph D. Silk of Westford and David J. Silk of Lowell and many grandnieces and grandnephews. Brother-in-law of the late Ann Frances (Nester) Silk. Fr. Silk will Lie-in-State Saturday morning from 10-11 o'clock at St. Rita Church in Lowell, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 o'clock. Burial in St. Mary Cemetery, Tewksbury. Contributions in his memory to the D'Youville Senior Care Center, Patient Activities Fund, 981 Varnum Ave., Lowell, MA 01854. Econdolences/Directions at www.odonnellfuneralhome.com. Calling hours at O'Donnell Funeral Home, 276 Pawtucket St., Lowell from 4-7 PM on Friday.