Obituary for Romaeus Cooney, O.Carm.
Reverend Romaeus Cooney, O. Carm.
Born in Kingston, NY on August 21, 1932
Professed First Vows in the Order of Carmelites on September 8, 1952
Professed Solemn Vows on September 10, 1955
Ordained to the Priesthood on May 26, 1958
Died on May 12, 2021
Reverend Romaeus Cooney, O. Carm., a member of the Order of Carmelites of the North American Province of St. Elias, died on Wednesday, May 12, 2021 after a brief illness. He was 88 years old.
James Cooney was born in Kingston, New York on August 21, 1932 to James F. and Emily Shick Cooney. He was predeceased by his parents, his brother Richard Cooney and is survived by his sister Jean Gill and several nieces and nephews.
In 1951 he was accepted as a novice in the Order of Carmelites, North American Province of St. Elias and received the religious name Romaeus. He professed first vows of obedience, poverty and chastity on September 8, 1952 at Mount Carmel in Auburn, NY. He professed his solemn vows on September 10, 1955 and was ordained to the priesthood on May 26, 1958 at St. Albert’s in Middletown, NY.
Father Romaeus attended St. Bonaventure College in Olean, NY, earning his Bachelor’s Degree in philosophy and theology in 1956. Following his Ordination to the Priesthood in 1958 Father Romaeus served as a teacher at St. Albert’s Junior Seminary in Middletown, NY until 1968. Subsequently, he taught at Mt. Carmel in Auburn, NY from 1969-1972 and then in Pottsville, PA until 1975. He returned to teach at St. Albert’s Junior Seminary in Middletown, NY in 1975 until the school’s closure in 1977. He remained in ministry at St. Albert’s Priory, serving as Prior from 1981 to 1983.
From 1983-87, Father Romaeus served at Our Lady of the Scapular Church on 28th Street in New York, NY as Pastor. Following that assignment, he transferred to Mt. Carmel Retreat Center in Williamstown, MA as a Retreat Director and Prior of the community until 1993. He moved to St. Joseph’s Parish in Troy, NY in 1994 and served as Parochial Vicar and then Pastor until he retired in 2013. Following retirement, Father Romaeus moved to St. Jude’s Priory in Boca Raton, FL. In April 2018, he was transferred to St. Albert’s Priory in Middletown, NY where he resided until his death.
Father Romaeus most enjoyed working behind the scenes. He dedicated much of his free time and artistic talent creating works of art through the media of floral arrangements and his vast collection of handmade statues made with ordinary scraps and materials. His collection of statues holds their own notoriety as they have traveled on display from one Carmelite Church to another over the years so all could enjoy their uniqueness and beauty. Father Romaeus was also an accomplished pianist.
Always willing to accept responsibility in the works of the Province, Father Romaeus served as the Assistant Provincial during the triennium of 1988-91. He also served on the National Shrine Task Force from 1991-94, the Fraternal Life Commission from 1994-2000 and the Preparatory Commission from 1997-2000.
A dedicated, faithful and hard-working Carmelite, Father Romaeus Cooney, O. Carm. was a professed member of the Carmelite Order for 68 years and a priest for 63 years, celebrating his 60th Jubilee of Ordination to the Priesthood on May 26, 2018. He will be greatly missed.
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Born in Kingston, NY on August 21, 1932
Professed First Vows in the Order of Carmelites on September 8, 1952
Professed Solemn Vows on September 10, 1955
Ordained to the Priesthood on May 26, 1958
Died on May 12, 2021
Reverend Romaeus Cooney, O. Carm., a member of the Order of Carmelites of the North American Province of St. Elias, died on Wednesday, May 12, 2021 after a brief illness. He was 88 years old.
James Cooney was born in Kingston, New York on August 21, 1932 to James F. and Emily Shick Cooney. He was predeceased by his parents, his brother Richard Cooney and is survived by his sister Jean Gill and several nieces and nephews.
In 1951 he was accepted as a novice in the Order of Carmelites, North American Province of St. Elias and received the religious name Romaeus. He professed first vows of obedience, poverty and chastity on September 8, 1952 at Mount Carmel in Auburn, NY. He professed his solemn vows on September 10, 1955 and was ordained to the priesthood on May 26, 1958 at St. Albert’s in Middletown, NY.
Father Romaeus attended St. Bonaventure College in Olean, NY, earning his Bachelor’s Degree in philosophy and theology in 1956. Following his Ordination to the Priesthood in 1958 Father Romaeus served as a teacher at St. Albert’s Junior Seminary in Middletown, NY until 1968. Subsequently, he taught at Mt. Carmel in Auburn, NY from 1969-1972 and then in Pottsville, PA until 1975. He returned to teach at St. Albert’s Junior Seminary in Middletown, NY in 1975 until the school’s closure in 1977. He remained in ministry at St. Albert’s Priory, serving as Prior from 1981 to 1983.
From 1983-87, Father Romaeus served at Our Lady of the Scapular Church on 28th Street in New York, NY as Pastor. Following that assignment, he transferred to Mt. Carmel Retreat Center in Williamstown, MA as a Retreat Director and Prior of the community until 1993. He moved to St. Joseph’s Parish in Troy, NY in 1994 and served as Parochial Vicar and then Pastor until he retired in 2013. Following retirement, Father Romaeus moved to St. Jude’s Priory in Boca Raton, FL. In April 2018, he was transferred to St. Albert’s Priory in Middletown, NY where he resided until his death.
Father Romaeus most enjoyed working behind the scenes. He dedicated much of his free time and artistic talent creating works of art through the media of floral arrangements and his vast collection of handmade statues made with ordinary scraps and materials. His collection of statues holds their own notoriety as they have traveled on display from one Carmelite Church to another over the years so all could enjoy their uniqueness and beauty. Father Romaeus was also an accomplished pianist.
Always willing to accept responsibility in the works of the Province, Father Romaeus served as the Assistant Provincial during the triennium of 1988-91. He also served on the National Shrine Task Force from 1991-94, the Fraternal Life Commission from 1994-2000 and the Preparatory Commission from 1997-2000.
A dedicated, faithful and hard-working Carmelite, Father Romaeus Cooney, O. Carm. was a professed member of the Carmelite Order for 68 years and a priest for 63 years, celebrating his 60th Jubilee of Ordination to the Priesthood on May 26, 2018. He will be greatly missed.
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Previous Events
Visitation
Monday
17
May
2:00 PM
- 4:00 PM
St. Albert's Chapel at National Shrine of Our Lady Of Mt. Carmel
Carmelite Drive
Middletown, NY 10940
Visitation
Monday
17
May
6:00 PM
- 8:00 PM
St. Albert's Chapel at National Shrine of Our Lady Of Mt. Carmel
Carmelite Drive
Middletown, NY 10940
Service
Tuesday
18
May
11:00 AM
- 12:00 PM
St. Albert's Chapel at National Shrine of Our Lady Of Mt. Carmel
Carmelite Drive
Middletown, NY 10940
Memorial Contribution
Carmelite Friar's Retirement Fund
P.O. Box 3079
Middletown, NY 10940
Middletown, NY 10940
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