Reverend Daniel T Keefe

A Mass of Christian Burial for Father Daniel T. Keefe will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Friday, April 19, 2024, at St. John’s Church in Plattsburgh. Bishop Terry R. LaValley will be principal celebrant, and Msgr. Leeward J. Poissant will be the homilist. The Reception of the Body will be at 6 p.m. on Thursday, April 18, at the church, with Msgr. Dennis J. Duprey, VF, presiding. Calling hours will follow from 6 to 8 p.m., concluding with Night Prayer at 8 p.m. Additional calling hours will be held at the church from 9 to 10:30 a.m. on April 19. Burial will follow in Mount Carmel Cemetery, Plattsburgh. Father Keefe died April 11, 2024, at Elderwood of Uihlein at Lake Placid, where he had been a resident. He was 95. Born February 27, 1929, in Plattsburgh, he was the son of Francis J. and Kathryn (Tobin) Keefe. He graduated from St. John’s Academy, Plattsburgh, in 1946. Immediately after, he attended Wadhams Hall in Ogdensburg and St. Bernard’s Seminary in Rochester. He was ordained a priest by Bishop Walter P. Kellenberg on May 22, 1954, at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Ogdensburg. Father Keefe began his ministry as parochial vicar at Church of the Holy Family in Watertown. He then served in that role at St. Patrick’s Church in Chateaugay. During that assignment, he also spent a year as Deanery Youth Director. After serving most of 1958 as administrator of Church of the Immaculate Conception in Keeseville, he became parochial vicar at St. Mary’s Church in Potsdam, with additional duties as moderator of the Newman Club and Father Prior of the Columbian Squire Circle #1096 in Potsdam. He was later parochial vicar at St. Joseph’s Church in Dannemora, with additional duties as teacher at the Catholic school in Redford and chaplain for the Knights of Columbus Council #2166 in Dannemora. His next assignment was as administrator at St. Patrick’s Church in Rossie and St. Peter’s Church in Hammond, later becoming pastor of those churches. During his first assignment as pastor, he also served on the Senate of Priests, as Defender of the Bond and as seminary confessor at Wadhams Hall. In 1969, Father Keefe was named pastor of the John XXIII College Community Center in Plattsburgh, a role he held until 1984. During that time, he was also named diocesan director of Newman Campus Ministry and a member of the Liturgical Commission. He was later named pastor of St. Joseph’s in Malone followed by St. Mary’s of the Lake in Cumberland Head, also serving on the Council of Priests, as dean of the Franklin Deanery, on the Priest Personnel Board and as dean of Clinton Deanery. He was later named pastor of St. Joseph’s in Malone also serving on the Council of Priests, as dean of the Franklin Deanery, on the Priest Personnel Board. Father Keefe’s final assignment before retirement was pastor of St. Mary’s of the Lake in Cumberland Head and as dean of Clinton Deanery. He retired in June of 2004. In addition to his parents, Father Keefe was predeceased by his brothers, James Keefe and Jack Keefe; and nephews, Kevin Keefe and Daniel Keefe; and brother-in-law Bruce Cornell. Father Keefe is survived by his sisters-in-law, Margaret Keefe and Mary (John) Roach; nephews, Patrick Keefe and Sean Bedard; and nieces, Doreen Cornell, Donna Keefe (Don) Dick and Molly (Christopher) LaMountain. Arrangements are under the care of Brown Funeral Home who will live stream the Mass via Facebook.