Spiritans lose a ‘brilliant person’ in Fr. Graham

TORONTO - Spiritan Father Edward Graham, who taught for many years in Spiritan schools, passed away Jan. 26 at the age of 88. He was in his 62nd year of the priesthood with the Spiritans.

“He was a brilliant person,” said Fr. Paul McAuley, a fellow Spiritan who had known him for about 30 years. “He was very kind and lived very simply.”

His teaching career with the order began shortly after Fr. Graham was ordained (Fr. Graham completed his theology degree in Freeburg, Switzerland). For 17 years, he taught on the island of Mauritius.

Fr. Graham was also a math teacher for many years at Toronto’s Neil McNeil High School.

Outside of teaching, from 1989, he was provincial bursar for the TransCanada Province of the Spiritans.

“He will be really missed by his family and friends,” said McAuley. “Even though he was born in Ireland, he has quite a number of nieces and nephews living in Canada,” and they were very close.

His funeral will be held Feb. 2.