Father Arthur J. Espelage, OFM
Funeral Mass for Father Arthur J. Espelage, OFM, 78, who died Friday, December 9 at Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus, will be celebrated Monday, Jan. 16 at St. Anthony Friary in Cincinnati. Burial will be at St. Mary Cemetery in St. Bernard, Ohio.
He was born on Aug. 13, 1944, in Cincinnati to Arthur and Antoinette (Green) Espelage.
He attended St. Francis Seminary in Cincinnati and entered the Franciscan novitiate on Aug. 15, 1962. After professing his first vows in 1963, he entered Duns Scotus College in Southfield, Michigan, where he made his solemn vows on Aug.16, 1966. He was ordained to the priesthood on June 12, 1971, at St. Leonard College in Centerville. He earned several degrees in canon law from the Catholic University of America.
In the Diocese of Columbus, he was adjutant judicial vicar in 1994 and 1995 and judicial vicar from 1995 to 1997. He also was a professor of canon law at the Pontifical College Josephinum and served the Archdiocese of Cincinnati and dioceses in New Mexico, Florida and Arizona as an associate pastor, teacher of canon law and theology, judicial vicar and diocesan Tribunal member. He also was executive coordinator for the Canon Law Society of America from 1999 to 2008.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Angela. Survivors include a brother, Joseph (Jennifer) and sisters Theresa (James) Michael, Diane Daria and Anne (Scott) Martin.
Deacon Dwight T. Larcomb Jr.
Funeral Mass for Deacon Dwight T. Larcomb Jr., 88, who died Tuesday, Dec. 20, was celebrated Tuesday, Dec. 27 at Marion St. Mary Church. Burial was at Wharton Richland Cemetery in Wyandot County.
He was born in the family farmhouse near Harpster in Wyandot County on Aug. 23, 1934 to Dwight and Cora (Swartz) Larcomb.
He graduated from Upper Sandusky High School in 1952, attended Bowling Green State University, and graduated from Ohio Northern University in 1961 with a Bachelor of Science degree in pharmacy. He served in the U.S. Army from 1954 to 1957 and during that time joined the Catholic Church, receiving the sacraments of Baptism, first Eucharist and Confirmation on Feb. 18 and 19, 1956. He spent most of his working career as a pharmacist in Ohio, Hawaii and Florida.
He attended the Diocesan Diaconate School of Theology from 1982 to 1986 and was ordained a deacon on June 6, 1986, by Bishop James Griffin in Columbus St. Joseph Cathedral. He served at Marion St. Mary Church from 1986 to 1992, when he moved to Hawaii, where he exercised his diaconal ministry at Holy Cross Parish on the island of Kaneohe. He and his wife moved in 2004 to St. Petersburg, Florida, where he retired from active ministry. After his wife’s death in late 2005, he returned to Marion, where he visited the sick and homebound as a retired deacon.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife, Kathleen (Kear). Survivors include sons, Stephen, D. Douglas and Phillip; daughters, Margaret and Christine; 25 grandchildren and 37 great-grandchildren.
Lucy Ryan Kilbane
Funeral Mass for Lucy Ryan Kilbane, who died Friday, Dec. 16, was celebrated Wednesday, Dec. 21 at Powell St. Joan of Arc Church. Burial was at St. Joseph Cemetery, Columbus.
She was a graduate of Columbus Bishop Hartley High School, the College of St. Mary of the Springs (now Ohio Dominican University) and Kent State University.
Through the years, she was a parishioner of Columbus St. Agatha, Delaware St. Mary and St. Joan of Arc churches, was a member of the Columbus diocesan school board and the St. Agatha school board and was president of the Elizabethan Guild.
She was employed by the Columbus Metropolitan Library, the Liberty Powell YMCA and the Delaware County Council for Older Adults, was a master gardener for the Franklin County Extension Service and volunteered at Birthright, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Chadwick Arboretum, St. Agatha School and Bishop Watterson High School.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Martha (McGrath) Ryan and her husband, Thomas. Survivors include sons Thomas (Carolyn), Brendan (Lauren), Terence and Egan (Amy); daughters Nora, Sarah (John) Moore, Clare (Dennis) Cleary and Grace; brother, Robert (Mary Ginn) Ryan; sisters Hannah (Jack) O’Handley, Nora (George) McNamara and Martie (Mark) Lukanich; and 12 grandchildren.
Norma M. Gurklis
Funeral Mass for Norma M. Gurklis, 94, who died Sunday, Dec. 18, was celebrated Tuesday, Dec. 27 at Columbus St. Agnes Church. Burial was at Resurrection Cemetery, Lewis Center.
She was born on March 3, 1928 to James and Camellia Competti.
She graduated from Dennison Immaculate Conception High School and earned a diploma in nursing from the Mount Carmel Hospital School of Nursing in Columbus in 1949, a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing education from the Catholic University of America in 1953 and a Master of Science degree in nursing from Ohio State University in 1974.
She was a registered nurse and an operating room nurse and was a faculty member for 27 years at the Mount Carmel School of Nursing, teaching medical surgical nursing and the clinical rotation in the operating room.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Dr. John Gurklis; brothers, Severino, William and Thomas; and sisters, Margaret Nazionale, Delia Dalpiaz and Irma Biancamano. She is survived by a son, Dr. John (Robin) Gurklis Jr.; a daughter, Dr. Jean Anne (Richard) Jacko; two grandsons and two granddaughters.
ALFMAN, Rosalie T. (Pacino) 73, Dec. 9
St. Rose of Lima, New Lexington
ARMSTRONG, John, 84, Dec. 14
Sacred Heart Church, Coshocton
BOEHM, Robert, 84. Dec. 9
St. Peter Church, Columbus
CORROVA, Anthony J., 86, Dec. 7
Our Lady of Victory Church, Columbus
FIOCCA, John A. Jr., 72, of Columbus, Dec. 11
St. Hilary Church, Fairlawn
HANN, Gerald E., 95, formerly of Columbus, Dec. 18
St. Paul Church, Athens
HICKEY, William P., 91, Dec. 17
St. Brendan Church, Hilliard
JOHNSON, Ester “Mae” (Dean), 88, Dec. 12
St. Colman Church, Washington Court House
KIENLE, James T., 80. formerly of Columbus, Dec. 7
St. Mary Church, Indianapolis
KRAMER, Nancy (Sheehy), 91, Dec. 10
St. Andrew Church, Columbus
LAURELLO, Maxine (Peet), 96, Dec. 11
Resurrection Cemetery Chapel, Lewis Center
MANESH, Ruthann S. (Shapiro), 87, Dec. 4
St. Anthony Church, Columbus
McBRIDE, Annelies (Strobel), 86, Dec. 4
Immaculate Conception Church, Columbus
MILLER, Martha J. (Johnson), 73, Dec, 7
Christ the King Chapel, Ohio Dominican University, Columbus
MISKIMENS, Janet, 90, Dec. 12
Sacred Heart Church, Coshocton
ROCK, Barbara L. “Barb,” 84, Dec. 14
St. Nicholas Church, Zanesville
RUNYON, Kenneth Joe, 84, Dec. 17
St. Joseph Church, Plain City
RUSSELL, Nancy A., 91, Dec. 9
Our Mother of Sorrows Chapel, Columbus
SHERMAN, John F., 91, Dec. 9
St. Matthew Church, Gahanna
STEVENS, George W., 84, Dec. 19
St. Brigid of Kildare Church, Dublin
YOCCA, Jennie L. (Arrera), 100, Dec. 15
St. Christopher Church, Columbus