John Shanahan
3 September 1919 – 31 May 2010

John, who had seven siblings, was born in Glebe and educated by the Sisters of St Joseph in Belmore, the Sisters of Mercy in Erskinville and the Patrician Brothers at Redfern.

He volunteered to the Armed Forces before conscription and served most of the war in the Pacific Islands as a member of the Air Force ground staff.

Upon his return he joined his parents, John and Mary, in their newsagency business.

John was accepted as a candidate for priesthood in the Archdiocese of Sydney and began his ecclesiastical studies in 1950. He was ordained in St Mary’s Cathedral, Sydney, on 20 July 1957.

His parish appointments included Revesby (1957), Sutherland (1962), Malabar (1965) and Annandale (1968). He also spent 25 years as chaplain to the Lidcombe State Hospital.

John retired to Walcha and spent the next 10 years assisting with supply ministry in the Armidale Diocese. In his final years he was lovingly cared for by the staff at the Riverview Retirement Village and Walcha Hospital.

With a smile on his face John passed away peacefully on the 31 May 2010.