A memorial Mass for Father Joseph R. Monahan was celebrated April 5 in the chapel at Mary Queen and Mother Center in Shrewsbury. Father Monahan died March 28 at age 80.

Born in Philadelphia, Pa., Father Monahan attended St. Joseph Preparatory High School and St. Charles Seminary in Philadelphia. He was ordained in 1962 in Philadelphia by Cardinal John Krol and incardinated into the Archdiocese of St. Louis in 1980.

After serving in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia for about 13 years, Father Monahan transferred to the Archdiocese of St. Louis where he was named associate pastor of St. John the Baptist Parish in St. Louis in 1976 and Immacolata Parish in Richmond Heights in 1982. He was appointed pastor of St. David Parish in Arnold in 1984.

Father Monahan was appointed senior associate pastor of Holy Infant Parish in Ballwin in 1993 and at St. Raphael the Archangel Parish in St. Louis in 2002. He retired for health reasons, moved to the Regina Cleri home for retired priests and then moved to Mother of Perpetual Help, an assisted living center in Shrewsbury.

Father Monahan donated his body to St. Louis University Medical School.