John Craughwell

John Craughwell, 86, of Topeka, died June 7, 2016 at the House at Midland Care.

He was born in Menlough, Ballinasloe, County Galway, Ireland on October 14, 1929 the son of Michael and Catherine (Curley) Craughwell.

He received a B. A. degree from St. Jarlath’s College in Tuam, Ireland and, in 1954, from St. Peter’s Seminary College in Wexford, Ireland where he was ordained a priest. 

He came to this country to serve in the archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, where his first assignment was Holy Name parish, Topeka, Kansas.  After serving also as chaplain at the State Hospital and at Providence Hospital in Kansas City, he served as pastor in Wheaton and Onaga and in several other rural parishes.  While on leave of absence from Kansas, John served as chaplain at Good Samaritan Hospital in Los Angeles, where he decided to leave full-time active ministry and received his papal dispensation. 

After serving a four-county mental health agency in Bradford, Pennsylvania, John served in administration in a state correctional facility in Moberly, Missouri and also worked in the county correctional facility in Topeka.  After official retirement, John worked in the Sheltered Living Program and Sunflower Supports in Topeka for over ten years.

He was a member of Most Pure Heart of Mary Catholic Church, where he served as an occasional parish Eucharistic minister and a volunteer Catholic chaplain at the state women’s prison, belonged to CORPUS national association of married priests, Catholics for Renewal, NETWORK National Catholic social justice lobby, Call to Action, Pax Christi USA and was an Associate member of the Sisters of Charity in Leavenworth.  John enjoyed reading, traveling, gardening, storytelling and fishing.

John married Mary Mercedes Foster in Topeka, Kansas on June 13, 1973.  She survives.  He is also survived by a brother, Michael of Ireland and a niece Josephine Craughwell-Madden of Sugarland, Texas and many other family members and friends.  He was predeceased by his sisters, Mary, Nora, Julia, Kathleen, Sr. Josephine and Sr. Anita, and two brothers, Patrick and Martin. 

John will lie in state at the Brennan-Mathena Funeral Home on Friday after 2:00 p.m. where the family will receive friends from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. followed by a  Parish Prayer Service and Rosary  at 6:00 p.m.  Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday at 10:30 a.m. at Most Pure Heart of Mary Catholic Church.  Interment will be in the Foster Cemetery in Topeka.

Memorial contributions may be made in his memory to the Medical Missionaries of Mary, Mission Development Office, 4425 W. 63^rd St., Suite 100, Chicago, Ill.  60629-5530.

Online condolences and fond memories may be left at www.brennanmathenafh.com.