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Submitted: 3/17/13 • Approved: 3/25/13 • Last Updated: 3/28/13 • R848207-G0-S3
December 28, 1932 - March 17, 2012
Professed October 3, 1952
Order Discalced Carmelites
Obituary
Father Joseph Neilson
San Antonio, Texas
1932 - 2012
Published March 20, 2012
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Father Joseph Neilson, OCD was born in Manhattan, N.Y., on December the 28th of 1932 to Fredrick Neilson and Josephine Clancy. The family struggled a bit as Father Joseph's father died when Joseph was young. Nevertheless, he excelled in his studies in primary school with the Christian Brothers and then went to Fordham Prep. When Father discovered the writings of St. Therese, he was moved to apply for entrance to the Discalced Carmelite Order. He made his profession to the religious life in 1952. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1962 in Rome. Father Joseph was tireless in his service to the Church.
As he was quite an athlete, he would often jog to his ministerial assignments. He was devoted to work for Pro-Life and most especially to the care of women who found themselves in need because of an unplanned pregnancy. Father was instrumental in the founding of Abba House in Little Rock, a facility dedicated to providing refuge for homeless women. He also helped found a similar institution in Dallas Texas called the White Rose. Father Joseph died in San Antonio after a long period of nursing care on March 17th.
He will be deeply missed by his Carmelite brothers and by his many friends. May he rest in peace.
Rosary will be held at 7:15 p.m. this evening (Tuesday) in the chapel at Monastery of Marylake, 5151 Marylake Drive, Little Rock, Arkansas 72206. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at the monastery at 10 a.m., Wednesday, under the direction of Griffin Leggett Healey & Roth. To sign the online guestbook, go to www.griffinleggetthealeyroth.com.
Contributed on 3/17/13 by Eagle12953
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Record #: 848207