Rev. Joseph Francis Gorman

Rev. Joseph Francis Gorman of Waterbury, CT died Wednesday, February 25, 2015 in Plantsville. He was born in Waterbury on October 2, 1929 to John W. and Mary Louise "Mae" Flanagan Gorman. Father Joe attended Barnard School and graduated from Sacred Heart Grammar and High Schools - all in Waterbury. He then entered St. Thomas Seminary in Bloomfield, and St. Mary's Seminary in Baltimore, MD. He was ordained a Roman Catholic Priest at St. Joseph Cathedral, Hartford on May 19, 1955. He said his First Mass at his home parish, St. Patrick, Waterbury. He later earned a Master's degree in Counseling from St. Joseph College, West Hartford. His priestly assignments were as curate at St. Bernard, Sharon; St. Anthony, Litchfield; Our Lady of Mercy, Plainville; St. Patrick-St. Anthony, Hartford; co-pastor at St. Mary, Milford; administrator at St. Anne, Waterbury; pastor at St. Aloysius, Plantsville; and pastor at St. Leo the Great, Waterbury. While retired, Father served as temporary administrator at Patrick and St. Joseph parishes, Waterbury. Besides these assignments, he was also a part time teacher and then guidance counselor at Sacred Heart High School. Father Joe loved the priesthood and performed his duties well. He was attentive to the needs and instruction of youth, visiting the sick, and assisting and comforting those in their final hours. He was well known for the help he gave to countless families. He was an expert skier and top notch golfer, a #1 fan of the Boston Red Sox through thick and thin and of the N.Y. Giants. Father is survived by his sister Loretta Gorman Delaney and her husband John of Farmington, CT and his cousin Barbara Keane Whitlock and her husband Bob of Danbury, CT. Also left to grieve are his nieces and nephews: Beth Gorman Doolan, Atty. John H. Gorman, Jr., William J. Gorman, and Thomas J. Gorman - all of Waterbury ; James C. Marciano, Jr. of Southington and Joseph F. Marciano of Groton; Lorrie Delaney Lusebrink of Trumbull, J.B. Delaney of San Jose, CA and Edward J. Delaney of Oakland, CA. He also left grand nieces and nephews, several cousins and many, many dear friends. Besides his parents, Father Joe was pre-deceased by his aunt Grace E. Flanagan of Waterbury, uncles Rt. Rev. Msgr. Henry E. Flanagan of East Norwalk and Rev. Joseph F. Flanagan of Windsor, his brothers John H. Gorman and James J. Gorman, his sister Mary Lou Marciano - all of Waterbury, his niece Betsy Delaney of Farmington and his grandniece Jennifer Gorman of Waterbury. The Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Tuesday, March 3, 2015 at 11 a.m. at St. Leo the Great Church, 14 Bentwood Drive, Waterbury. The Most Reverend Leonard P. Blair, Archbishop of Hartford, will be the principal celebrant. Burial will be in New St. Joseph Cemetery in Waterbury. Calling hours are on Monday March 2, 2015 from 4 - 7 p.m. and Tuesday March 3, 2015 from 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. at St. Leo the Great Church. A Parish Mass will be celebrated following the wake on Monday at 7:30 p.m. Donations, if desired, would be appreciated by St. Leo the Great Church 14 Bentwood Drive, Waterbury, CT 06705 or the Alzheimer's Resource Center 1261 South Main Street, Plantsville, CT 06479. His family would like to thank all his care givers at the Alzheimer's Center for the care and kind and thoughtful respect given Father Joe. The Murphy Funeral Home, 115 Willow St., Waterbury is in charge of arrangements. Visit www.murphyfuneralhomect.com for more information or to send an online condolence.