Reverend John D. Silk

Reverend John D. Silk Senior Priest for Archdiocese of Boston; 80 LOWELL Reverend John D. Silk, 80, of Lowell, a Senior Priest for the Archdiocese of Boston, died Tuesday evening, August 19, 2008, at D'Youville Senior Care Center. Born in Lowell, March 4, 1928, the son of the late Adam F. and the late Mary (Cogger) Silk. He attended Lowell Schools and was a graduate of Keith Academy in the Class of 1945. In 1951, he was a member of the first graduating class at Merrimack College. During the Korean Conflict, he served in the US Navy at the Naval Air Station in Norfolk, VA. 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 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 Silk of Lowell, Ann Taylor and her husband, Brian of Lowell and Mary McGeown of Dracut; five nephews, James D. Silk and his wife, Susan of Bethesda, MD, John F. Silk and his wife, Ruth of Chelmsford, William J. Silk and his wife, Marian of Lowell, Joseph D. Silk and his wife, Jean of Westford, and David J. Silk and his wife, Laurie of Lowell; and many grandnieces and grandnephews. He was the brother-in-law of the late Ann Frances (Nester) Silk. SILK In Lowell, August 19, 2008, at D'Youville Senior Care, Reverend John D. Silk, 80 of Lowell, Senior Priest of the Archdiocese of Boston, Friends may call at the O'DONNELL FUNERAL HOME, 276 PAWTUCKET ST. at Fletcher from 4 to 7 P.M. Friday. Fr. Silk will Lie-in-State Saturday morning from 10:00 to 11:00 at ST. RITA CHURCH followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 o'clock. Burial in St. Mary Cemetery in Tewksbury. Those wishing may make contributions in his memory to the D'Youville Senior Care Center, Patient Activities Fund, 981 Varnum Ave, Lowell, MA 01854. E-condolences/Directions at www.odonnellfuneralhome.com. Arrangements by James F. O'Donnell, Jr. and John W. Crane (978 or 866) 458-8768.