Obituary of Ronald Joseph Larkin

LARKIN, M. S. C., Father Ronald Joseph \ Age 72, died Sunday, April 8, 2007 at the Sacred Heart Villa in Center Valley, Pennsylvania. A Concelebrated Mass of Christian Burial will take place 11:00am, Thursday, April 12, 2007 at St. Mary Catholic Church in Mt. Morris with Father Joseph Jablonski, M.S.C., Provincial Superior of the USA Province of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, as principal Celebrant. Interment in Calvary Cemetery. The family will be present to receive friends at the Miles Martin Funeral Home on Wednesday from 11:00am to 9:00pm. On Wednesday evening, family, friends and parish will gather at the funeral home for a Scripture Service at 7:00pm. On Thursday morning, Fr. Larkin, M.S.C., will be taken to church to lie in state from 10:00am until the time of Funeral Mass at 11:00am. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Father Ronald J. Larkin Memorial Fund at Sacred Heart Villa, 3300 Station Ave., Center Valley, PA 18034-9563. Envelopes are available at the funeral home and church. Father Ronald J. Larkin, M.S.C. was born February 10, 1935 in Flint the son of Bruce E. and Gertrude B. (Jones) Larkin. He graduated from St. Maryas Parochial Grade School in Mt. Morris in 1949 and shortly thereafter entered the Sacred Heart Minor Seminary. He continued his studies at Sacred Heart Seminary in Youngstown, Ohio and his theological studies at the Gregorian University in Rome earning his Licentiate degree in theology in 1962 and a Ph.D. in philosophy in 1966. On July 2, 1961 he was ordained as a priest at the Church of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart at Piazza Navona in Rome. Upon his return to the US he began teaching at the Sacred Heart Seminary in Shelby and was eventually appointed to chairman of the philosophy department at Allentown College of St. Francis de Sales. In 1972, he was appointed superior of the local MSC community in Center Valley, Pennsylvania and, in 1976, he was elected the provincial superior of the United States Province of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart. He held that position until 1981 when he was elected the Vicar General of the Society of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart and re-elected again in 1987. This position saw his return to Rome to reside at the congregationas headquarters at Via Asmara. After leaving Rome again, Fr. Larkin eventually made his way to California and was appointed to Vicar for Clergy at St. Joseph Church in Upland. On February 2, 2003 he was awarded the Pontifical Cross, Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice, by Pope John Paul II. In February of 2007, he was reassigned and moved to the Sacred Heart Villa in Pennsylvania. Left to cherish his memory are his brothers: Bruce and Letty Larkin of Lehigh Acres, Florida, Elwin and Thelma Larkin of Reese, James and Mary Larkin of Gladwin, Aaron and Pam Larkin of Largo, Florida, sisters: Faith and Ed Corcoran of Mt. Morris, Hope and Gene DeLaVergne of Largo, Florida, Charity Fournier of Montrose, Gloria and Lance Lavigne of Mt. Morris, sister-in-law: Shirley Larkin of Mt. Morris, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Gertrude and Bruce Larkin, brothers Donald and Leo Larkin, and sister, Philomena. Friends may share memories, prayers, and stories at the funeral home and online at www.martinfuneralhome.com. \