Obituaries

The Rev. John P. Henry

The Rev. John Henry

The Rev. John P. Henry, former pastor of Sacred Heart R.C. Parish in Cutchogue and St. John the Evangelist R.C. Church in Riverhead, died Aug. 7 at the Household of Angels in Severna Park, Md. He was 84.

Born on Oct. 21, 1925, in New York City to Margaret (Foley) and John Henry, he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree at St. Francis College in Brooklyn and his Master of Social Work from Fordham University. He studied for the priesthood at the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception in Huntington and was ordained on June 7, 1952.

The Rev. Henry’s first assignment was at St. John the Evangelist, where he served from 1952 to 1959. From 1959 to 1961, he served at Holy Family R.C. Church in Hicksville and later became the diocesan director of youth activities, a position he held for nine years.

He was called to serve at St. Edward R.C. Church in Syosset in 1970 and came to the North Fork two years later. He retired from Sacred Heart Parish in 1990, after 18 years.

The Rev. Henry then relocated to Florida, where he assisted in various parishes, including St. Ignatius of Antioch in Tarpon Springs. He was also the author of two books, “These 40 Days: Guided Lenten Meditations and Exercises” and “To See the Face of God: It’s the Sole Purpose of Existence.”

He is survived by his siblings, Anne O’Sullivan of Fairfield, Conn., Mary Gallagher of Lindenhurst and Thomas, of Arnold, Md.

The family will receive visitors today, Thursday, Aug. 12, from 2 to 4 p.m. at DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home in Mattituck. The Mass of Transferral will be celebrated at 7:30 p.m. at Our Lady of Good Counsel R.C. Church, Mattituck, where the Liturgy of Christian Burial will be celebrated tomorrow, Friday, Aug. 13, at 11 a.m., with Bishop Peter Libasci as principal celebrant. Burial will follow at Sacred Heart R.C. Cemetery in Cutchogue.