FORMER BLAIR PASTOR DIES IN FLORENCE

Rev. Timothy O’Driscoll, 54, pastor of the St. Philips Neri church of Florence, died shortly before 9 p.m. Sunday at St. Catherine’s hospital, following an emergency operation for a ruptured appendix performed Feb. 2.

Rev. O’Driscoll was born in Ireland, April 1, 1876, and attended the St. Finsbarr college of Philosophy and Theology there. He later entered the Hallows college in Cork, Ireland, where he was ordained to the priesthood on June 24, 1902 by the Right Rev. Bishop Gaffney.

Following his ordainment, he went to Omaha to receive his first appointment as deaconate, which was at Blair. The following year he became assistant pastor of the O’Neill Catholic church.

in 1904 Rev. O’Driscoll came back to Blair as pastor and was here until 1918.

Following his fourteen years as pastor at Blair, he received his first appointment in Omaha, Nov. 19, 1918, to become pastor of the St. Philips Neri church. Rev. O’Driscoll was pastor of St. Philips Neri church up until the time of his death.

The parish has grown since the time of his going to Omaha. Rev. O’Driscoll worked so that a new school could be built, which was finished a few years ago.

He is survived by five brothers and two sisters.

The funeral was held at St. Cecilia’s Cathedral this Thursday morning, the Rev. Agnew, S. J. president of Creighton university officiating, according to tentative arrangement. A children’s mass was said Wednesday at St. Philips church.

Many Blair people, including the writer, are proud to be numbered among the personal friends of Father O’Driscoll and count his death as a great loss to the community in which he lived.

Obituary courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clipping on file at the Blair Public Library.

FindaGrave Memorial # 148282314