Stephen Somerville

SOMERVILLE, Father Stephen —

Born April 1, 1931; ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Toronto May 26, 1956; died December 12, 2015.

Near midnight, as the feast of Our Lady of Guadaloupe was ending and Gaudete Sunday in Advent was already being celebrated, Father Somerville died peacefully in Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre from complications following a stroke. Rejoicing to welcome him in Heaven are his parents; Henry Somerville and Margaret Cooper; his older brother Father Peter Somerville and his sisters Mary and Anne. Celebrating his gifted life and faithful ministry on earth are his sisters Janet Somerville and Moira van Nooten, with her husband John and their children Margaret, Helena, Johan, Anneke, Sebastian and Miriam, and his many friends in faith.

 

The family will receive friends at the HUMPHREY FUNERAL HOME A.W. MILES – NEWBIGGING CHAPEL, 1403 Bayview Avenue (south of Davisville Avenue) from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 16th. Requiem Mass will be celebrated in the CHURCH OF THE TRANSFIGURATION, (Society of St. Pius X) at 11 Aldgate Avenue, Toronto, at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, December 17th. Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated in OUR LADY OF LOURDES CHURCH, 520 Sherbourne Street, Toronto, at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, December 18th. Interment will follow at ST. AUGUSTINE'S SEMINARY – QUEEN OF THE CLERGY CEMETERY at 2661 Kingston Road, Toronto.

 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Catholic Near East Welfare Association (www.cnewa.ca). Condolences and memories may be forwarded through www.humphreymilesnewbigging.com

 

As an organist, composer and singer of music; as an ardent birdwatcher and camper; as a writer, a mentor and pastor of souls, Stephen was in all things a priest of Jesus Christ.