1895 – 1948 (April 16)
Francis Earl O’Bryan was born in Mechanicville, New York, on March 31, 1895, to Henry O’Brien and Margaret Leonard. He attended Mechanicville public schools and Villanova Preparatory School. Sometime during his time at Villanova he changed the spelling of his name from O’Brien to O’Bryan. He entered the novitiate at Villanova in 1914, and made his profession of vows on July 2, 1915. Following studies, he was ordained to the priesthood in the Cathedral of Saint Peter and Paul of Philadelphia by Archbishop Denis Dougherty on June 10, 1922.
Father O’Bryan was assigned to Augustinian Academy in September, 1922. In 1925 he was transferred to Saint Rita’s High School in Chicago, Illinois. The following year, he was assigned to Aurora, Il., where he remained until 1932. Father O’Bryan was appointed sub-master and procurator of the novitiate at New Hamburg, New York, in 1932, and subprior, as well, in 1935. He was stationed as procurator at the House of Postulants on Staten Island, N.Y. in 1941.
In February, 1942, Father O’Bryan was named assistant at Saint Mary’s Parish in Waterford, New York where he died suddenly on April 16, 1948 at the age of 53. Father Edward Quinn, O.S.A. was celebrant of the Funeral Mass celebrated at Saint Mary’s, at which Father Joseph Dougherty, O.S.A., prior of the Villanova Monastery preached. The Prior Provincial, Father Mortimer Sullivan, O.S.A. presided. Father O’Bryan was buried at Saint Augustine’s in Troy, New York.
