Obituary of Reverend Timothy E. Horan

Father Timothy Edward Horan passed away on July 4, 2023, as a result of a rare and aggressive cancer.  He was a beloved priest in the Diocese of Rochester for forty-four years, where he served faithfully as priest and pastor in seven local parishes.  His last assignment was at Holy Trinity Church in Webster, where after twelve years and at the age of 75, he had planned to retire to Senior Status in June.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, July 10, 12:00 pm, at Holy Trinity Church, 1460 Ridge Rd., Webster, NY 14580.  The Most Reverend Salvatore R. Matano, Bishop of Rochester, will be the principal celebrant.  The mass will be livestreamed at www.holytrinityweb.com.  The parish will host Visiting Hours prior to the Mass, from 9:00-11:45 am, in the church sanctuary.  A private burial will take place immediately after the service at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery.

Father Tim, as his parishioners knew him, was born and raised in Cuyahoga Falls, OH, on February 18, 1948.  He attended Archbishop Hoban High School in Akron, OH, and St. Michael’s College at the University of Toronto, where he earned his B.A. in Honors History.  He made lifelong friends among the American student and Basilian Fathers communities at St. Mike’s, as well as connections that eventually brought him to Rochester.  After teaching at Our Lady of Mercy High School for several years, he entered St. Bernard’s Seminary to commence his studies toward the priesthood.  He was ordained on May 11, 1979.

In addition to his pastoral duties, Father Tim served for fourteen years as Diocesan Director of Priestly Vocations.  His commitment to the priesthood was enthusiastic and sincere.  “I love being a priest, and I’d like to share that happiness with young men who are trying to decide where God is calling them in their lives.  I think being a parish priest gives you access to people in their everyday lives, which is where the Gospel needs to happen.”

Father Tim is predeceased by his parents, Philip and Rosemary Hedges Horan.  He is survived by his dear sisters: Mary Patricia (Michael-RIP) Tweardy, and Maureen (George) Malaska.   He is also survived by   thousands of people in the Rochester community whom he regarded as friends and extended family, people whose hearts and minds he touched in his extraordinary life of service as a Catholic priest.

The Horan family wishes to publicly thank the Leo Center for Caring Hospice in the St. Ann’s Home community for the extraordinary and empathetic care given to Father Horan in his last weeks.   In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory at two organizations: The Diocese of Rochester Catholic Ministries Appeal, www.donate.dor.org; and Catholic Relief Services, www.support.crs.org.