Obituary; Rev. Rickard J. O'Donovan of Wilmington, 77, Pastor

Boston Herald
August 7, 2000

The Rev. Rickard J. O'Donovan of Wilmington and Somerville, pastor of St. Dorothy's Parish in Wilmington, died Thursdayat Saints Memorial Medical Center in Lowell after a lengthy illness. He was 77.

Born in County Cork, Ireland, Father O'Donovan attended St. Teresa'a School at St. Catherine's Parish in Somerville, Malden Catholic and St. John's Seminary in Brighton. He was ordained in 1949 at Holy Cross Cathedral in Boston.

He was assistant at Immaculate Conception Parish in Somerville, St. Colman's in Brockton and Most Precious Blood in Hyde Park. Father O'Donovan was pastor at Sacred Heart in Weymouth and at St. Dorothy's in Wilmington until his death. He celebrated his Golden Jubilee there in 1999. He was also vocation director for Plymouth Deanery.

Father O'Donovan is survived by many relatives and friends in the United States and in Ireland.

Father O'Donovan will lie in state in St. Dorothy's Church today from 3 to 9 p.m., with a prayer vigil at 8. Bernard Cardinal Law will be the principal celebrant at the funeral Mass tomorrow at 11 a.m. in St. Dorothy's Church.

Burial will follow in North Cambridge Catholic Cemetery, Cambridge.

Arrangements by W.S. Cavanaugh & Son, Wilmington.