Fr. Michael Eugene O’Carroll (February 6, 1937 – September 1, 2018) was born in Derry, Northern Ireland to Michael T. O’Carroll and Maureen McGoldrick, the eldest of 7 children. He grew up in Killybegs, County Donegal in the Irish Republic. He attended Nial Mor Grade School and St. Eunans High School in Killybegs. He entered All Hallows College in Dublin 1956 studying for the Diocese of Tucson, AZ. He was ordained a priest on June 17, 1962. He served as associate pastor at Holy Cross – Morenci, AZ (1962-1963), Blessed Sacrament – Miami, AZ (1963-1965), Immaculate Conception – Douglas, AZ (1965-1967) and St. Thomas the Apostle – Phoenix, AZ (1967-1973). He was appointed pastor at St. Henry’s – Buckeye, AZ (1973-1981) where he supervised the building of the new church. In 1981 he moved to St. Paul’s in Moon Valley-Phoenix, AZ where he served as pastor for 27 years. He supervised the building of a new church, classrooms and parish hall and the remodel of the conference rooms, offices and rectory. He retired in 2008. Fr. Eugene also served in the Arizona Army National Guard. He was commissioned Chaplain in February 1970 for the Transportation Battalion, Chaplain to Arizona Support Brigade and ended his service as State Area Command Chaplain. He retired as Colonel on February 27, 1997.
Fr. Eugene is preceded in death by his brothers, Roger and Paul, and sister Dymphna. He is survived by his brother Shawn (Elizabeth) O’Carroll, and sisters Annice (Owen) Routley, Paula O’Callaghan and 10 nieces and nephews and numerous grandnieces and grandnephews.
Funeral services will be held at St. Paul’s Roman Catholic Church, 330 W. Coral Gables Dr., Phoenix, AZ 85023. A Vigil Service with viewing and rosary will be Wednesday, September 5, 2018 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Funeral Mass will be on Thursday September 6, 2018 at 10:00 am. A reception will follow the Funeral Mass in O’Carroll Hall. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Society of St. Vincent de Paul, P.O. Box 13600, Phoenix, AZ 85002-3600.
Fr. Eugene will be buried at St. Mary of the Visitation Church, Killybegs, County Donegal, Ireland.
Mary and Artie Hauer
You were a good and Faithful servant, Fr. Gene! Thank-you for building such a beautiful Church and Parish at St. Paul.
The Peace of God be with you in your eternal life with Christ Jesus.
Sandy and Larry Lintner
Father Gene was a wonderful person. He cared about his people and God. We will miss his smile.
Ghislaine Naumann
Fr. O’Carroll you were such an important part of my life. I will miss so much. Thank for all you did for me and my family. I will forever be grateful. Say hi to Don for me. See you on the other side.
Betty and Joe McCaigue
Our love and prayers to the O’Carroll family on the passing of Fr. Gene. He was a dear friend and a wonderful servant of God. We were blessed to have him at St. Thomas More and he will be truly missed.
“May the road rise to meet you
May the wind be always at your back
May the sun shine warm upon your face
May the rain fall soft upon your fields and, until we meet again
May God hold you in the palm of His hand”
Rest in peace Fr, Gene.
Sarah K. Mercado÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷
I had the privilege to give you Holy Communion, at the Abrazo Arrowhead Campus Hospital, on August 29, 2018, as a Volunteer from Saint Thomas More Church, where you also serve as a Retired Priest, Father. Fortunately, I asked you to bless me at the same time.
May you see the Face of God, Father and remain in His Peace!!!
catherine
Margaret and junior mc guinness and family , sorry for your loss . R.I.P. Fr. Eugene
Dan Solmes
God Bless you, Father O’Carroll!
You were a blessing to so many at St Paul and a true servant of God. Rest and be merry in the presence of our
Lord, family , Fr. Bob Binta, friends and all the Saints. You will truly be missed.
Dan and Sue Solmes
L. Cawley
What a wonderful soul! He inspired me to stay with the Catholic faith when I had my doubts. I will always miss his sly smile, lilting Irish accent and sense of humor.
Paul and Dixie
Our hearts ache for your family. Fr. Gene was a steady guiding light for our family for 27 years at St Paul’s and after his retirement. We will miss him greatly for his wisdom, compassion, great teller of stories, and his love of a good scotch. A true man of God who completed his work on earth. Thank you as a family for sharing this remarkable man
with us and we are grateful.
Jeff Stevens
Father Gene was a dear friend to our family for many years. My parents loved his stories and humble manner. Just a few weeks ago I lost my brother, and was so relieved that Fr Gene was back from Ireland and could officiate his funeral and offer some personal stories. His words were, and will continue to be, a great comfort. He will truly be missed by many, and condolences to his family in Ireland.
Kimmy shafer
Our deepest condolences to Father Eugene’s loved ones. I just showed Father’s obituary photo to our 4 year old daughter and I asked if she remembered holding the door for him three weekends ago after he left Mass. She remembered him and said that he told
Her ,”Thank you so much for holding the door for me” and he placed a few coins into her little container that she had brought that had a number of coins she kept in it. I remembered him acknowledging that she held the door for him and I thought it was special he went out of his way to speak to her and I didn’t know the coin bit until she just told me. He was a kind and good priest. We will miss him very much. I will never forget him . May you rest in heavenly peace with the Lord whom you served and loved and All of your family who were home already. Peace and love,
The Shafer ‘s
Segundo Family, Buckeye,AZ
Our deepest sympathy to Fr. O’Carroll family. “✝️ RIP ✝️” Condolences from your past parishioners at St. Henry’s.
Russ Kusler
More than just our Parish priest, and friend, you became a member of our family. Cherished memories of family dinners, family vacations, marriages, baptisms, and even the funerals of both of my parents. May you forever Rest In Peace.
Larry Kusler
Father Gene was a good man. He was a friend to our family for nearly 50 years and will be missed. His love for everyone was easy to see. We were blessed to have him in our lives.
John and Patty stevens
He was a great man, he has been a family friend for many years. Your help during recent deaths in our family was been more than we ever could have asked.
Jennie Alva and family
Fr Ocarroll a dear friend to the Alva family. Thank you for being there for Paul and the family. Starting marriage encounter in Buckeye, WOMEN`S group, building St Henrys church. Always being there for Paul during his illnesswill be missed Dearly. You’ll see your family and lots of friends in heaven. RIP my dear beloved friend.
HELEN WOLF
Our loss is great but it is greater for those who did not know Father Gene. He had a very easy going way of reaching out to people, even those not of the Catholic faith. At a recent wake a young man (non Catholic) said “that guy, “The Pope” he really connected with me. I really got what he said”. When we told Father Gene this story he had a really good laugh and with a twinkle in his eye said he would never want to be Pope. A truly wonderful human being not elevated in status but more importantly in the hearts of those who knew him. My sincere condolences and thanks to to his family for sharing him with us.
HELEN WOLF
Our loss is great but greater for those who did not know Father Gene. He had a unique way of reaching out to people even those not of the Catholic faith. At a recent wake a young man said “That guy, The Pope he really connected with me, I got what he said.” When we told Father this story he laughed and with a twinkle in his eye said he would never want to be Pope. A wonderful person not great in status but more importantly loved by everyone who knew him. My thanks and condolences to his family for sharing him with us
Linda Ashby Nickell
Father Gene was St. Pauls. From RE at age 5 1981 when he was installed to my confirmation 1993. He even said Christmas mass last time I was in Phoenix. You will be missed.
Rosemary Kelly
Sincere Sympathy to the O Carroll Family.
May Fr. Eugene Rest In Peace.
Betty Villa
Our deepest condolences Father Gene. You were a true friend to our family over the years. Thank you for being with us in happy times and sad times. We will miss you dearly but Rest In Peace our friend until we meet again! ✝️❤️
Betty & Kristina Villa
Mary Heigl
Father Gene was truly a blessing to all of us that knew him. We will miss him dearly at St. Thomas More and throughout our community. We were so saddened to hear of his passing. We just returned from a holiday from his beautiful homeland of Ireland and I had no idea. May he rest in peace with our Heavenly Father.
Dan and Theresa Krier
Peace and Grace to the family and this wonderful servant of God. He married us about 27 years ago. We were recently talking about him and decided to look him up for we wanted to send him a greeting and let him know we are still going strong.