James F. McKeon; 1st Pastor of St. Peter Claver
The Rev. James F. McKeon, a retired priest and former Simi Valley resident, died Monday at St. John of God Retirement Care Center in Los Angeles. He was 70.
He was born Sept. 15, 1928, to John Patrick and Vera Feenan McKeon in Detroit.
In 1954, McKeon was ordained after graduating from St. Patrick Seminary in Menlo Park.
McKeon was the founding pastor at St. Peter Claver Catholic Church in Simi Valley. The church was dedicated in 1972, and McKeon remained there until 1994.
He was the senior priest at St. Jude Catholic Church in Westlake Village from 1994 until Dec. 20, 1996. He then retired and went to St. John of God Retirement Center.
Donations in his name can be made to St. John’s Seminary in Camarillo. A vigil Mass is scheduled at 7 p.m. Friday at St. Jude Catholic Community with Bishop Thomas Curry officiating.
A Mass of Christian Burial is scheduled at 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Peter Claver Catholic Church with Cardinal Roger Mahoney officiating. Burial will follow at Assumption Catholic Cemetery in Simi Valley.
Arrangements are under the direction of Reardon Simi Valley Mortuary in Simi Valley.
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