Msgr. John Lunney, 77
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Monsignor John A. Lunney, 77, formerly of North Adams, died Friday, March 16, 2001, at Mary Conrad Center in Anchorage, Alaska.
Born in Garnerville, N.Y., on March 15, 1924, son of Edward J. and Ann Carragher Lunney, he graduated from the former St. Joseph's High School in 1941 and from St. Anselm College in Manchester, N.H., in 1950.
He served in the Army Air Forces during World War II.
After graduating from college, he spent a year as a postulant at the Benedictine Monastery in Wisconsin. While a seminarian, he worked for the Alaska Road Commission. He transferred to St. Thomas' Seminary in Denver and was ordained to the priesthood in 1956 in Springfield.
Monsignor Lunney was assigned to Alaska in 1956, serving in Juneau, Ketchikan, Cordova and Valdez. He was assigned to St. Michael's in Palmer in 1966, with the formation of the Archdiocese of Anchorage. He and members of the parish Building Committee and the archdiocese purchased land and built churches in Wasilla, Big Lake, Willow, Talkeetna and Trappers Creek. Through the efforts of military personnel on leave, a church was built at Big Lake in seven days.
He was made a member of the Papal Household in 1966 by Pope Paul VI, with the title of monsignor. He served as pastor of Holy Family Cathedral in Anchorage from November 1966 to February 1970, when he was assigned as pastor to the cathedral in Juneau. In August 1970, he was appointed first pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe parish in Spenard and retired from that post on his 70th birthday. He served in various other capacities, including as an official of the archdiocese, director of the Propagation of the Faith, and state chaplain of the American Legion.
He leaves a sister, Alice M. Lunney of North Adams; a nephew, a grandniece and a grandnephew.
He was predeceased by two sisters, Rita Ternan and Edna Lunney, and a brother, Edward Lunney.
FUNERAL NOTICE — A funeral Mass for Monsignor Lunney was concelebrated by Archbishop Roger L. Schwietz of Anchorage, retired Archbishop Francis Hurley and Archbishop Robert Sanchez, and many priests in Alaska on Monday, March 19.