Joseph Hynan Obituary, Death – Unexpectedly passing away last night was Father Joseph Hynan, who had served as the fourth parish priest of St. Gerard’s Parish Dandenong North from 1974 until 1986. He was only a few months short from reaching the age of 87 when he was called away from his ministry. We are passing along the news of his leaving with a heavy heart and a lot of grief. After receiving his ordination to the priesthood on June 11, 1960, Fr. Hynan would go on to become St. Gerard’s second longest serving Parish Priest, behind only Fr. William Van Kooy, having served for a total of 12 years. Fr. Hynan was born in Ireland, and he received his ordination to the priesthood on June 11, 1960.
During the period that he was a priest at St. Gerard’s, Fr. Hynan had a tremendous influence on the parish. He did this by providing assistance to the many different parish organizations and by seeing to the requirements of the huge number of parishioners. Having left the Parish in 1986 to take up a new appointment, St. Gerard’s was blessed to have Fr. Hynan’s presence in the Parish from 2010 onwards in retirement. Fr. Hynan had previously left the Parish in 1986 to take up a new position. He made his home within the boundaries of the Parish, and he began to preside over the Masses attended by younger members of the St. Gerard’s Parish community.
Even though Fr. Hynan had to leave the parish in 1986 in order to accept a new position, St. Gerard’s continued to benefit from his presence. Because of the consistent decline in his health that he has experienced over the course of the past few years, he was compelled to move into a facility for the elderly in the year 2018. The community at St. Gerard’s will grievously miss Fr. Hynan, who leaves behind an incredible body of work at the parish, and they will remember him fondly. An announcement will be made here once all of the funeral arrangements have been completed in their entirety.
Requiescat In Pace.