MORTON — A funeral Mass was offered at Blessed Sacrament Church here on July 17 for Deacon Thomas A. Moran, 87, a permanent deacon of the Diocese of Peoria who served at Blessed Sacrament Parish from 1992 to 2006.

Deacon Moran died on Sunday, July 14, 2013, at Pinecrest Community in Mount Morris.

Father Mark DeSutter, pastor of Blessed Sacrament Parish, was principal celebrant of the funeral Mass. Burial was in Memorial Park Cemetery in Galesburg.

Deacon Moran was “a good and generous man” and was the first permanent deacon ordained from Blessed Sacrament Parish, Father DeSutter told The Catholic Post.

“He kind of broke ground,” said Father DeSutter, noting Deacon Moran earned the trust of and worked closely with the late Father Eugene Finnell, former pastor.

In addition to sacramental ministry, Deacon Moran visited the sick and homebound. As parish sacristan, he “opened the doors and set up for Mass every day,” said Father DeSutter. Even before studying for the diaconate, he was an active parishioner, serving on several parish committees.

“He was very dedicated to the parish and willing to help in whatever way he could,” said Father DeSutter.

GALESBURG NATIVE
Born March 13, 1926, in Galesburg to Frederick R. and Beulah M. (Willett) Moran, he was a 1944 graduate of Galesburg High School and served in the Army Air Corps during World War II.

He married Phyllis M. Read on July 9, 1945, in Denver, Colo. She survives, along with three daughters: Sherrill (Pat) O’Brien of Edelstein, Nancy (George) Poe of Mount Morris, and Susan (Perry) Sundell of Manito. Also surviving are eight grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, and one sister, Mary Morse of Galesburg.

He was preceded in death by a son, Michael, and a brother, Kenneth.
Deacon Moran was a depot agent for the Santa Fe Railroad for 18 years and the traffic manager for Continental Grain in Bartonville, retiring in December 1988.

He then began preparation for the permanent diaconate and was a member of the diocese’s fifth class of deacons ordained at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Peoria on May 9, 1992.

A member and assistant chaplain of the Knights of Columbus, Father Raho Council 4194, Deacon Moran was also past president of the Transportation Club of Peoria. He was a Boy Scout troop leader who also served as volunteer assistant fire chief in Benson for 10 years.

Memorials may be made to Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, 225 E. Greenwood St., Morton, IL 61550 or to the Pinecrest Community, 414 S. Wesley Ave., Mount Morris, IL 61054.