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Thomas James "Tom" Hooley
1930 - 2025
Thomas Hooley Obituary
Born and raised in Stillwater, MN, Tom's life was marked by service, compassion, and adventure. He graduated from Stillwater High School and the United States Naval Academy. After serving in the U.S. Navy, Tom entered the seminary and was ordained a Roman Catholic priest with the Congregation of the Holy Cross of Notre Dame, South Bend, IN. As a priest, he served the poor in Peru, Syracuse, NY and Chicago, IL. He also served as parish priest in South Bend, IN. He later earned a master's degree in social work at the University of Chicago.
He worked with Sister Rose Tillman at Peace House Community in Minneapolis, a safe haven dedicated to those wounded by economic and social dislocation. He was a proud member of Veterans for Peace and served as an international election observer in El Salvador from 2000 to 2006. In Minnesota and beyond, Tom was a steadfast activist, raising his voice against nuclear proliferation and military intervention.
A lifelong learner and adventurer, Tom was an avid backpack traveler, exploring the globe with curiosity and humility.
He is survived by his wife and partner, Betsy Dwyer Hooley. Together, they built a life of compassion, friendship and service, sharing countless memories with friends, including Tom's lifelong friend, Roger Columbo. Tom was also a man deeply rooted in love-cherished by his many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews.
Tom was preceded in death by his parents, Alva and Matthew Hooley; his brothers and sisters-in-law Jack (Joyce) Hooley and Charles (Nancy) Hooley; his sisters and brothers-in-law Jean (Clarence) Corrigan, Dorothy (Robert) Thueson and Marge Hooley; his niece Anne Thueson; and his nephew Tom Corrigan.
A private family Mass will be held in his memory.
Memorials are preferred to: Senitizo, a humanitarian, non-profit organization whose mission is to provide life-saving health services to people without access to healthcare in the Central African Republic, founded by Tom's great-nephew, Ted Hooley (2344 Foothills Dr. S., Golden, CO 80401; https://senitizo.org/) and Peace House Community, 1816 Portland Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55404; https://peacehousecommunity.org/.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
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