Fr. Andrew Han, former pastor of Holy Spirit, dies at 86
Funeral Mass was celebrated Sept. 30 at Holy Cross Cemetery's Holy Redeemer Chapel, Culver City, for Father Andrew Han, 86, pastor emeritus of Holy Spirit Church in Los Angeles, who died Sept. 25.
A Chinese native, Father Han was ordained in Peiping, China, in 1948. He took graduate courses in canon law and history in Rome before arriving in Los Angeles in 1953 where his first assignment was at St. Catherine Laboure Church in Torrance.
In the '50s and '60s, Father Han served as an associate pastor at several parishes, including Santa Isabel, Los Angeles; St. Gregory the Great, Whittier; St. Catherine of Siena, Laguna Beach; Our Lady of the Rosary, Paramount; Our Lady of Refuge, Long Beach; All Saints, Los Angeles; Holy Innocents, Long Beach; and St. Vibiana Cathedral, Los Angeles.
He served as a chaplain at the Los Angeles County Long Beach General Hospital for eight years, from 1956-1965, and was master of ceremonies at St. Vibiana's during his tenure there. In 1973, he was named pastor of Holy Spirit in Los Angeles, retiring from active service as pastor emeritus in 1982.
Father Han performed chaplaincy duties at Little Company of Mary Hospital in Torrance from 1982-87. He had been residing at St. John of God Retirement and Care Center in Los Angeles a little over a year before his death.
Fr. Francis Shigo, SVD
Funeral Mass was celebrated Oct. 3 at Beatitudes of Our Lord Church, La Mirada, for Divine Word Missionary Father Francis Shigo, former teacher and staff member at Verbum Dei High School in Watts, who died Sept. 29 in Los Angeles at age 74.
A native of Philadelphia, Father Shigo was ordained in 1960 and served in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles for 46 years. He was a member of the Verbum Dei faculty (1964-73 and 1990-92) and its business manager (1982-89).
Within the Divine Word community, Father Shigo served as its superior (1973-79) and procurator (1979-82), and for three years was associate pastor at the Divine Word Center in Los Angeles. He was also in residence briefly during the 1970s at St. John the Evangelist Church, South Los Angeles.
Since 1995 he served as chaplain at San Pedro Peninsula Hospital. Burial will be in Coaldale, Pa.
Br. George Ghiselli, SDB
Funeral Mass was celebrated Sept. 20 in Italy for Salesian Brother George Ghiselli, who died Sept. 17 at Pope Pius XI Hospital in Rome where he had been hospitalized since Sept. 4.
A native of San Francisco, he made his perpetual vows as a Salesian in 1954 in Aptos. Brother Ghiselli began his ministry managing the Salesian Press in Richmond, California, for five years. Moving to Southern California, he then taught and managed the offset print department at Don Bosco Technical Institute in Rosemead for over 30 years, from 1955-1989.
After serving as the community treasurer for two years at the Salesian Provincial Office in San Francisco, he was assigned to work at St. Joseph's Youth Renewal Center. In 2001, he moved to the Salesian Headquarters in Rome where he filled various assignments.
Sr. Agnes Rohr, SP
Funeral Mass was celebrated Sept. 20 at Mount St. Joseph in Spokane for Sister of Providence Agnes Rohr (Sr. Augustinus), 89, who died Sept. 18. She had been a Sister of Providence for 71 years.
After joining the Sisters of Providence in Seattle in 1935, she embarked on a teaching career and later worked in Providence-owned hospitals in the Northwest. Among her many ministry assignments, she taught at Providence High School, Burbank (1966-68). Memorial donations may be sent to the Sisters of Providence, Office of Development, 9 East 9th Ave., Spokane, WA 99202-1209.
Deacon Frederick Pelletier
Funeral Mass was celebrated Sept. 23 at Holy Family Church in Glendale for Deacon Frederick Pelletier, who died Sept. 4. A Senior Deacon and member of the Knights of Columbus for 58 years, he served his entire diaconal ministry at Holy Family Church. Memorial cards may be sent to The Pelletier Family, 321 E. Stocker St., Glendale, CA 91207.
Fr. Richard Russell
Funeral Mass was celebrated Sept. 13 at Holy Family Cathedral, Orange, for Father Richard Russell, 83, who died Sept. 5. A retired priest of the Diocese of San Diego, Father Russell had been a long-time resident at Kolping House in Los Angeles. Burial was at Holy Sepulcher Cemetery in Orange.
Herbert McGrath, Jr.
Funeral Mass was celebrated Sept. 6 at St. John Baptist de la Salle Church in Granada Hills for Herbert McGrath, Jr., who died Sept. 2.
Herb and his wife, Gerry, were among the founding families of St. John Baptist de la Salle parish. He started the lector program at De la Salle and served as a lector for nearly 35 years; Gerry has been parish music director for 53 years.
Survivors include his children, Evan, Martha, Noelle, Morgan, Nora, Emmett and Madeleine; 18 grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and his beloved wife of 55 years.
Mercy Mbazuigwe
A Memorial Mass was celebrated Sept. 9 at St. Genevieve Church in Panorama City for Mercy Mbazuigwe, who died Aug. 28 in Nigeria. She was the mother of Claretian Father Patrick Mbazuigwe. |