Deacon Frank J. Shaughnessy (1925-2017)

Tue, Dec 5th 2017 02:45 pm

Deacon Frank J. Shaughnessy died Dec. 1, 2017, in Hamburg, at age 92.
He was born Nov. 9, 1925, in Rochester, to Frank G. and Mary (Norton) Shaughnessy. He attended Yale University from 1943-44 before receiving a bachelor's degree from the University of Rochester in 1949, and a master's in social work from the State University of New York at Buffalo in 1963. He married the former Barbara Vaeth and the couple had eight children.
He worked as an administrator and was a New York state employee for the Department of Children's Services and the Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities. Deacon Shaughnessy was ordained a permanent deacon on June 1, 1980, at St. Joseph Cathedral in Buffalo.
Beginning that year, Deacon Shaughnessy served in liturgical ministry and as spiritual director of the charismatic prayer group at SS. Peter & Paul Parish in Hamburg. He also was a chaplain at the Erie County Juvenile Detention Center and Children's Psychiatric Center, and assisted with the diocesan Office of Pro-Life Activities. He was a member of the Legion of Mary and the Lions Club, and was awarded the Pro-Vita Award from the diocese and the Priscilla and Aquila Award, given to a permanent deacon and his wife.
He was the husband of Barbara (Vaeth); father of Marie Therese (David) Kersten, Martin (Judith), Bernard (Linda), Mary Rose (Michael) Fook, Margaret Mary, Maria (Andrew) Walker, Jean Marie (Timothy) Lipinski and Peter (Anabela) Shaughnessy; and brother of the late John and David (late Barbara) Shaughnessy. He is also survived by 23 grandchildren and a large extended family.
A funeral Mass was held at SS. Peter & Paul Church in Hamburg.