Obituary for Rev. James J. O’Shaughnessy
Father James J. O’Shaughnessy passed away on Monday December 2, 2024, at the Cardinal Egan Retirement Home for Clergy. He was 84 years old.
Father James was born on March 11, 1940 in the Bronx to James and Mary O’Shaughnessy. He was baptized at St. Peter and Paul Church in the Bronx and received his First Holy Communion and Confirmation in Our Lady of Mercy also in the Bronx. He attended grammar school at Our Lady of Mercy, and high school at Cardinal Hayes also in the Bronx. Prior to entering the seminary to prepare for the priesthood, he attended Cathedral College in New York for one year, and Iona College for two years.
He entered St. Joseph’s Seminary in Yonkers, NY in 1962, and was ordained to the priesthood at St. Patrick’s Cathedral by Cardinal Terence Cooke on June 1, 1968.
Father James celebrated his first Mass at Our Lady of Mercy on June 2, 1968. He went on to serve at Holy Rosary Parish, and Our Lady of Refuge in the Bronx. He was then assigned as a faculty member to Cardinal Spellman High School in 1978, where he taught for 37 years until he resigned in 2015. Fr. James celebrated his 50th anniversary as a Priest at St. Patrick’s Cathedral with classmates and Cardinal Dolan in 2018. He moved from residence at Cardinal Spellman HS to his retirement home at the Edward Cardinal Egan Pavilion in the Riverdale section of the Bronx. Father James will be remembered by his family, fellow teachers and priests, students, and many friends for his kindness, loyal friendship, humor, excellence as a teacher, and commitment to his Church.
Fr. James is survived by his sister Anne Duggan (John Duggan), and his brother John O’Shaughnessy, and his nieces Erin Stevens (Timothy Stevens), and Amy Orsini (Giuseppi Orsini), Luke Duggan (Michelle) and Sheila Duggan (Ronan Duggan); plus grandnephews: Daniel Stevens, Liam Stevens, Brennan Orsini, Andrew Orsini, Devon Duggan, Finn Duggan, Cashel Duggan, and his grandnieces: Emily Stevens, McKenna Duggan.
Visitation for Fr. James will be on Friday, December 6, 2004, at Cardinal O’Conner Residence, 5655 Arlington Ave. Bronx, NY from 9:00am to 10:30am followed by Fr. James’ funeral Mass, which will be celebrated by Bishop Edmund Whalen, Vicar for Clergy of the NY Archdiocese. Internment will follow immediately after the Mass at Saint Raymond’s Cemetery, 2600 Lafayette Ave., Bronx, NY.
Condolences may be sent to Anne Duggan, 6 Cedar Grove RD., Southington, CT 06489, or John O’Shaughnessy, 31 Mendes Road, Danbury, 06811. Donations in the name of Fr. James may be made to the Cardinal Egan Residence, 5655 Arlington Ave., Bronx, NY 10471.