Each and everyone of you sitting here today has a story about my sweet boy Larry, that would qualify YOU to be standing in my place.
However I was told quite emphatically by him that I was to speak to you on his behalf, so here I am.
Larry, Lawrence to his family, was a pretty complicated guy. Your individual experiences with him are like pieces to a jig saw puzzle, and I guess what I would like to try to do is pull those pieces together as best I can, knowing there will always be a missing piece or two.
Lawrence loved life, no doubt about it. He loved nature, food and wine, movies, classical music, hiking, astronomy, history, theology and words. But above all he loved God and people. He didn’t think he was a very good lover of people, but your presence here today proves him wrong..and we all know he didn’t relish being wrong.
His death certificate says he died of “heart failure”. He had a big heart that started out small in Toronto Canada where he was born. Grace and Lorne, Larry’s parents, nurtured that heart with their love of and faith in him.
In 1947, when he was 8 years old, he wrote a Christmas letter to them;
     Dear Parents,
             Today is the Birthday of Baby Jesus and when I receive him
              in Holy Communion I will speak to Him of you.
              I will thank Him for sending me such good parents
               and ask Him to spare you to me until I am able to thank
               you for your many kindnesses and care of me. I promise
               you I will do all I can this coming year to please you and 
               make you happy!
               Your loving son,
               Lawrence…I think he kept that Promise! 
   
      I know for sure that his sister Mary had that same love and faith in him right up to his last hours. It carried him through some difficult times and he never took it for granted. I don’t know if  Sister Mary O’Donnell of the Dominican Sisters of Amityville, ever sought absolution for “borrowing”  a bed an

Larry was the best. 
Like a Father to me.

God bless you my Friend.

Love Mark Deegan

I remember Fr. O'Donnell.  The morning mass as he would come hustling down the hall, about a minute before the mass was to begin, hair still dripping from the shower.  Afternoons, outer courtyard, playing handball and cursing up a storm whenever he missed a shot, not to mention his participation in student faculty games like football.  He was competitive.  But in the classroom, he taught with passion and humor, and he was a spiritual director with compassion and honesty.  I think he was transferred after my sophomore, maybe junior year, and not replaced.  The bishop may have sent another priest, but he was not ever to be replaced.  I read Eileen's eulogy, a couple of times.  It captured the man (and the priest) he was.  Maybe not a perfect role model, but one that a bunch of imperfect young men could follow

I graduated 50 years ago from a High School Mr. O'Donnell taught.  I remember him like it was yesterday.  He was a strong energetic man.  He could easily fill a room with his personality.  He was a teacher who made a difference.

Mike Murray
Class of 72

Larry was a great inspiration.  As a young person being taught by him, he showed me a God who was real, incarnate, and down to earth.  He was great to talk to, funny, and an outstanding teacher. I still remember material from his classes over 50 years ago.  He had so much energy for the changes of the church and in that way too inspired me to be a postconciliar priest. May he rest in God's peace and rise in glory.

OBITUARY

Lawrence J. O'Donnell

February 16, 1935 – January 12, 2022

Becker Funeral Home

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