1892 – 1961 (November 18)
Joseph John Lyons was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on September 17, 1892, to Thomas Lyons and Katharine Murphy, and was baptized at the cathedral there on October 16, 1892. His family later moved to Camden, New Jersey, and from there he entered the Order at Villanova on April 15, 1936. Following oblature and postulancy, he was received into the novitiate at New Hamburg, New York, on July 19, 1939, and made simple profession of vows on July 20, 1940. He was solemnly professed on July 20, 1943.
In 1940, Brother Joseph was assigned to Villanova where he served as porter and janitor for many years. He had suffered from very poor health, including paralysis for two years, before he died at Fitzgerald Mercy Hospital on November 18, 1961 at the age of 69. Father Bernard Hubbert, O.S.A., subprior of the Villanova Monastery celebrated his Requiem Mass, at which Father Richard Plunkett, O.S.A. preached. Brother Joseph is buried at Villanova in the community cemetery.
