Fr. Daniel Finnane |
MADISON — Fr. Daniel Finnane, a priest of the Diocese of Madison who served as pastor of St. Mary of the Lake Parish in Westport, died on Saturday, June 25, at the age of 74 at the Don and Marilyn Anderson Hospicecare Center in Fitchburg.
The Mass of Christian Burial for Father Finnane was held Wednesday, June 29, at St. Patrick Church, 315 Cherry St., Janesville. Bishop Robert C. Morlino was the principle celebrant with Msgr. Gerard Healy as homilist.
Burial followed the Mass with Rite of Committal by Msgr. James Gunn at Mt. Olivet Catholic Cemetery, 1827 N. Washington St., Janesville.
Memorials may be made to the Irish Holy Ghost Fathers, c/o St. Mary of the Lake Parish, 5460 Mary Lake Rd., Waunakee, WI 53597.
Father Finnane was born on June 10, 1937, to Cora (O’Connor) and Daniel Finnane in Janesville.
After attending St. Patrick Grade School in Janesville, he graduated from St. Francis de Sales Seminary, Milwaukee. He studied philosophy at Loras College, Dubuque, Iowa, and theology at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. He continued with graduate studies in education and earned a master’s degree in education at the Catholic University in 1967.
He was ordained by Bishop William P. O’Connor on May 25, 1963, at St. Raphael Cathedral, Madison.
He served as associate pastor at Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish, Madison; St. John Vianney Parish, Janesville; Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, Monona; St. Bernard Parish, Middleton; and St. William Parish, Janesville. He was associate chaplain at St. Coletta School, Jefferson.
He served as pastor at St. Thomas Parish, Montfort, with the mission of St. John Nepomucene Parish, Castle Rock; Our Lady of the Assumption Parish, Beloit; St. Joseph Parish, East Bristol; St. Olaf Parish, De Forest; and St. Mary of the Lake Parish, Westport, from where he would have retired in July.
During his years of service to the Diocese of Madison, Father Finnane also served as chaplain at the Janesville Fire Department and to the Naval Reserve Unit and taught at Edgewood High School in Madison.
Monsignor Bartylla said, “Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace.”