Cardinal Roger Mahony presided at a Funeral Mass July 22 at Holy Trinity Church in Los Angeles for Father James McElroy, 76, Holy Trinity's pastor emeritus, who died July 17 of pneumonia.

A native of Pasadena, Father McElroy graduated from St. John's Seminary in Camarillo and was ordained April 25, 1956. His first assignment was as an associate pro tem at St. Michael Church in Los Angeles followed by residency at St. Emydius Church, Lynwood, in 1961, the year he began teaching religion at Pius X-St. Matthias High School in Downey.

He served as an associate pastor at a number of churches, including St. Joseph in Santa Ana, St. Euphrasia in Granada Hills, St. Raymond in Downey, Holy Trinity, Queen of Angels in Lompoc (administrator) and St. James the Less in La Crescenta. From 1978 to 1988, he was pastor at Holy Trinity and, from 1988 to 1999, served as a senior priest followed by residency at the parish as pastor emeritus.

In addition to teaching his high school religion classes, Father McElroy served in jail ministry in the downtown Los Angeles prison. He was also active in the Confraternity of Catholic Clergy. "He was a very saintly person and devoted to the church," said Holy Trinity retired pastor Father Thomas Peacha. "He will be greatly missed by the parishioners."

Auxiliary Bishop Oscar Solis concelebrated at the funeral Mass along with several area priests. Family survivors include three brothers: William, Gerard and Daniel. Interment was at Calvary Cemetery in Los Angeles.

Dorothy Lester, IHM

Funeral Mass was held July 2 at Calvary Cemetery for Immaculate Heart Community Member Dorothy Lester (Sister Gregory), who died June 28.

A native of Santa Barbara, Lester entered the novitiate of the Immaculate Heart Sisters in Hollywood after graduating from Immaculate Heart College. In between teaching assignments in several locations, including Long Beach, she earned a master's degree in library science from Immaculate Heart College.

In 1963, she was elected secretary general of the community. In that capacity, she recorded the trials associated with the community's efforts to respond to the call of Vatican II to renew and modernize religious life. In the '70s and '80s, she served as a librarian in the Glendale Public Library, retiring in 1984. Community members called her an "island of calm no matter how stormy the sea around her." Burial was at Calvary Cemetery.