Joseph W. Drohan

SHREWSBURY

Fr. Joseph W. Drohan, of 30 Julio Dr. formerly of Atlanta, GA, the son of Frances (Wharton) and Patrick Drohan, was born on May 7, 1919 in Worcester, Massachusetts. He graduated from Holy Cross College and afterwards became a first lieutenant in the US Army and served in Europe during WW II. Lieutenant Drohan landed at Omaha Beach in June 1944 as the Normandy invasion got underway. From there, he led his men all the way to Berlin. On the occasion of his silver anniversary, he said: "I saw a lot of good friends die, but the Lord was good to me." After the war, he was employed by H H Brown Shoe Company before entering St. Mary's Seminary in Baltimore, Maryland. He was ordained on May 10, 1956 at St. Paul's Cathedral in Worcester and celebrated his first solemn mass, assisted by his brother Fr. James Drohan, SJ, on Sunday, May 13, 1956. He then moved to the diocese of Savannah-Atlanta in Georgia where he served for over forty years.

He served in several parishes, including Christ the King Cathedral (1956), St John the Evangelist (1957), St Thomas More in Decatur (1957-1961) and the Immaculate Heart of Mary (1961-1964). He was appointed the first pastor of Mother of Our Divine Savior in Toccoa Georgia in 1964 and served there until 1971. During that period, he also served the mission in Hartwell, Sacred Heart of Jesus Church. From 1971-1975 he was Pastor of Most Blessed Sacrament. From 1975 to 1985, he was pastor of Sacred Heart in Milledgeville, Georgia. From 1985 until his retirement in 1996, he served as chaplain to those with incurable cancer at Our Lady of Perpetual Help hospice in Atlanta. He also served as a prison chaplain, taught religion at St. Pius X High School (1961-1963) and served on the Archdiocesan Commission on Sacred Liturgy from 1962-1964. After his retirement in Worcester, Fr. Drohan worked with a pro-life group, saying masses for them in St. Mary's Healthcare Facility.

He was preceded in his death by his parents and his brothers David, James, Richard and Thomas, and his sisters Helen and Margaret (Spring). He is survived by his sister-in-law Judith (Ruiz) Drohan, his nieces and nephews Arthur, Justin, James, Michael and Thomas and Francese (Johnson), Judith (Johanson), Margaret (Chow) and Nancy (Drohan), his cousin Patrick Drohan and Family, and in-laws Rosamond, Barbara, Didi, Ron, Bill, and Donald, He is also survived by 31 great nieces and nephews and 6 great, great nieces and nephews.

Fr. Drohan returned to Worcester to care for two ailing brothers and a sister. After their deaths, Fr. Drohan choose to remain in Worcester and was lovingly cared for by his nieces and nephews as well as Sr. Mary Ann Bartell, Fr. Reidy and Bertha Moran at the direction of the Bishops of Worcester for which the family is deeply grateful. Despite many health problems, he remained spiritual, cheerful and loving to all those who cared for him until his death on April 26, 2005.

Fr. Drohan's funeral will be Saturday, April 30 with a Mass at 10:00 a.m. in the Cathedral of St. Paul, 15 Chatham St., Worcester.The Most Rev. Robert J. McManus will be principal celebrant. Calling hours will be Friday, April 29 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. with a wake service to be held at 7:00 p.m. in the Cathedral. Burial will be in St. John's Cemetery, Worcester. In lieu of flowers, conributions may be made to the Partners in Charity Ministry of the Retired Priests of the Worcester Diocese. CALLAHAN & FAY BROTHERS FUNERAL HOME, 61 Myrtle St., Worcester is directing arrangements.