Rev. Joseph M. Quinlan, 95, of Red Bank, passed away Dec. 16 at Riverview Medical Center. He was born July 5, 1925 in Jersey City to the late Thomas and Nora (McMahon) Quinlan.
Responding to God’s call to the priesthood, in 1944 he entered Seton Hall University and continued to the Darlington Seminary of the Newark Archdiocese. He was ordained to the priesthood June 7, 1952. He pursued his education training with a master’s degree from Iona College.
His first parish, where he served for 14 years as assistant pastor, was St. Patrick’s Pro-Cathedral in Newark. During the following years he served as assistant pastor and then in the position of pastor up to his retirement at several parishes of the Newark Archdiocese.
After retirement he continued his ministry at many parishes, including St. Leo the Great, St. Agnes, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Precious Blood, St. Gabriel’s, St. Catharine’s in Holmdel and St. Catherine’s in Farmingdale.
He is predeceased by his siblings, Mary Quinlan McManus, Ann Quinlan Bredehoft, Thomas Quinlan, John Quinlan and Rita Quinlan Sheridan.
He is survived by many loving nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews and great-grandnieces and nephews.
A visitation for the family was held Dec. 21 at the John E. Day Funeral Home, Red Bank. Visitation for the public and the parishioners he served was held Dec. 22 at St. Leo the Great Roman Catholic Church, Lincroft. A Mass of Christian Burial was livestreamed, celebrated following the public viewing. Interment followed at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in East Hanover.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent in Joseph’s memory to Archdiocese of Newark, Development Office/Annual Appeal, P.O Box 9577, 171 Clifton Ave., Newark, NJ 07104 or Sister of St. Joseph, 9701 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19118.
Please visit Joseph’s memorial website available at johnedayfuneralhome.com.
The article originally appeared in the December 24 – 30, 2020 print edition of The Two River Times.
