Laffan, Rev. Father Thomas 1865-1930

LAFFAN, HAYES, MCNAMARA, NOLAN, OSULLIVIAN, THEOBALD, CRAMER, BECKMAN, KEFFELER, MCCAFFREY, GINTER, REYNOLDS, DRUMMY, STEELE, HOWE, MOONEY, KERNAN, HAWES, MADDEN, ONEILL, MULLARKEY, STUART

Posted By: Ann Krumme (email)
Date: 12/28/2008 at 03:30:41

Funeral of Father Laffan.

Funeral services were held Tuesday morning, Dec. 23, at 10 o’clock for Rev. Thomas Laffan, retired priest, who died at this home in Waukon Saturday morning. A pontifical requiem mass was celebrated by His Grace, Archbishop Francis J. Beckman, of Dubuque. Deacons of honor were Rev. L. Hayes, New Albin; Rev. McNamara, Lycurgus; deacon of the mass, Rev. R. M. Nolan, Harpers Ferry; sub-deacon, Rev. D. O’Sullivian, Wexford; master of ceremonies, Rev. J. Theobald, and Jas. Cramer, Columbia College, Dubuque; acolytes, Rev. D. Keffeler, Watkins, Iowa and Rev. J. F. McCaffrey, West Ridge; book and candle bearer, Rev. H. Ginter, Norway, Ia.; mitre bearer, Rev. P. Reynolds, Hanover; thurifier, Rev. Claire Drummy, Waukon; assistant acolytes, Donald Steele and Walter Howe.

Interment was made in the cemetery at Wexford, where he served as pastor for more than 30 years.

The casket bearers were six former parishioners, Michael Mooney, Thos. Kernan, J. J. Hawes, Michael Madden, Henry O’Neill and M. J. Mullarkey.

Father Laffan was much beloved by his former Wexford parishioners, many of whom went to Waukon to pay their respects to his remains and attend his funeral. They desire in this connection to have us publicly return thanks to the good ladies of Waukon parish, who at the suggestion of the pastor, Father John C. Stuart, served the Wexford people a fine dinner the day of the funeral. It was a gracious, neighborly act, which will long be remembered.
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Card of Thanks.
We wish to sincerely thank our neighbors and friends for their sympathy and generosity during the sickness and death of our beloved brother, Father Thomas Laffan.

Ellen Laffan
Maria Laffan
Patrick Laffan
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[from the Waukon news column]
Patrick Laffan of Cedar Rapids, who was called here by the death of his brother, Rev. Thomas Laffan, last week, remains for a couple of weeks while his sisters become partially reconciled to their loss. Their friends will be pleased to learn that they expect to continue their residence in this city.

~Allamakee Journal & Lansing Mirror, December 31, 1930

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Added by S. Ferrall 3/30/2015:

Rev. Thomas Laffan, 65, retired pastor of the Immaculate Conception church at Wexford, Ia., died at his home in Waukon Saturday morning at 7 o'clock. Father Lafan had been in ill health for more than a year.

The Most Rev. Francis J. Beckman, archbishop of Dubuque, will be celebrant of the pontifical mass of requiem which will be read in St. Patrick's church at Waukon Tuesday morning at 10 o'clock. Large numbers of priests from all parts of the Dubuque diocese are expected to attend the services.

Father Laffan was born in Ireland July 3, 1865, and received his theological training at Thurles college, Ireland. He was ordained June 24, 1890, at Maynooth, Ireland, by Archbishop Walsh of Dublin.

Following his ordination Father Laffan came to this country for work in the Dubuque diocese and his first assignment was as an assistant to the rector of St. Raphael's Cathedral here. After a year he was transferred to Marion, Ia., where he served as pastor from 1891 to 1897. He was then appointed chaplain of Mercy hospital, Clinton, serving there two years.

In 1898 he was named pastor of the Immaculate Conception parish at Wexford and served there until December, 1929, when because of his failing health he retired.

After his retirement he moved to Waukon where he made his home with his two sisters in a house on the grounds of St. Patrick's parish. Besides his sisters, he is survived by one brother residing in Cedar Rapids and another brother who, while serving in China as a Catholic missionary, was recently captured by Chinese bandits and is now believed to be still held captive. Father Laffan also has a number of relatives living in Ireland.

~Telegraph-Herald and Times-Journal, Dubuque, Iowa, Sunday morning, December 21, 1930