Name: HOFFMEISTER COLONIAL MORTUARY
Address: St. Louis, MO

Our family lost a dear friend and advisor. A class act till the end!

I am heartbroken to learn of Father Dan's death.  I met him at Georgetown University in 1989, and he became a dear friend to me. He gave me my first communion when I converted to Catholicsm, performed my wedding ceremony, and baptized my son. Indeed, my son Daniel is named after Fr. Dan. I visited him many times over the years in St. Louis, most recently the week of his 90th birthday. I will dearly miss him.

I was blessed to have my freshman psychology class at SLU with Fr. Dan. I still remember our weekend retreat with him, when he set the passage of Philippians 1 into my heart forever.
I was blessed to meet up with him --for the last time, it turned out-- in Mexico City in the 90's, when I was working in Oaxaca.

I pray God may have mercy on his servant in his weakness, for I believe that all things work for the good, for those who love God.

Fr. Jim Gibson, C.R.

I hope you found peace  with a forgiving God.

I met my dear Fr. Dan in my freshman psychology class at Loyola University Chicago.  Our friendship blossomed and he blessed me by celebrating my wedding Mass and baptizing three of my children. He enriched my spiritual life and encouraged the deepening of my faith, always with an Irish sparkle in his eye. I will be forever grateful to God for willing our paths to cross. Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord and let perpetual light  shine upon your faithful servant. May Fr. Dan rest in peace.  Amen.

When I got into med school Father Dan attended the party in celebration and left early “because I find the presence of a priest can inhibit some people”. When I had a black eye as a result of my martial arts practice, we had lunch and he made a big show of offering me tissues and saying “you deserve better, honey” because he noticed other diners were staring at the woman with the bruises talking to the priest. In other words he was a riot and incredibly tuned in to the people around him. A photo of him with my best friend on the day she gratuater from law school has hung in my home for over 20 years. Every memory I have is a wonderful one. 

Fr. Dan became a dear friend when I was in college thirty years ago. He performed my marriage and my son carries his name. On St. Patrick's day, Dan would join my sister, various friends, and me for an Irish lunch at Murphy's pub in Old Town and assure us that St. Patrick's Day warranted a dispensation from lenten abstentions.  I will miss his loving soul. 

Father Dan has been a family friend throughout our lives (I'm in the family Christmas photo that my Aunt Tommye posted here).  He married my parents many, many years ago and then "remarried" them years later in a vow renewal ceremony in St. Louis. 

Before my parents' vow renewal ceremony got started, Father Dan and I were standing in front of the small crowd of lively family and friends. I was slated to do a reading at the ceremony. 
While waiting to start the ceremony, I leaned over and whispered to him that I was very nervous. He quickly replied, “Me too!”, which sent us into a giggling fit. Then he smiled and said, “Well, the best thing to do is just get started.” And so away we went. Good life lesson ;-)
Admit him speedily into Thy Holy Presence.
-Hannah Douglas


I received spiritual direction and sound advice from Fr. Dan nearly forty years ago at a time when most needed.  We have remained friends over the years.  May he rest in peace.  My condolences to his family.  

Both Dorothea and I will miss him as a mentor, priest, advisor, and good friend for many years. His smile will live in our memory forever. 

I had been trying to reach  Fr. Dan. He’s now with Our Lord. He was my lifeline for many years here in the States and in Germany. His broken heart is now unified with Our Loving Lord. May Fr Dan  now realize my gratitude in all its frailty. Love and prayer to all Fr. Dan’s family and friends. 

He was such a beautiful humen being.
 His strong faith made me believe .

Christa Kraft, Berlin

Fr. Dan was the celebrant at the marriage of my sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Joanne and Mike Douglas, and was a part of many of our family functions. See photo below -- Christmas 2005.

I am a cousin of Fr. Francis X. Cleary, so I knew him that way too. Frank was celebrant at my marriage to Patrick Arnall.

Dan was a professor for several of my psychology classes, and I knew him as university president.

We enjoyed his company, his intellect, his sense of humor.

May he rest in peace.  Tommye 

I met him when I was working at Georgetown and at a very low point. Although I was Protestant then, he took me under his wing and helped me through. Later we reconnected, and he added my sister, Kate,  to his flock. He taught us what a father should be, and helped us connect with God as Father. Eventually both of us became Catholic. We have never for a moment regretted it, and are so grateful for having known him, and for all he taught us. We will miss him, but know he is home now.

Fr, Dan was a premarital counselor to us and a friend for life.  He married us 47 years ago and we enjoyed his wisdom and private masses until about two years ago.  He was a academic and was always focused on his friends and his research until the end.
Mike and Joanne Douglas  Married by Fr Dan Nov 24, 1973 at the Assistencia Mission  in Redlands California.

OBITUARY

Reverend Daniel C O'Connell S.J.

May 20, 1928 – December 21, 2020

Hoffmeister Colonial Mortuary

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