Kenneth Patrick McDonnell (1909 - 1958)

Born 5 May 1909 in Arthur, Wellington, Ontario, Canada

Ancestors

Died 26 Aug 1958 at age 49 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

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Biography

Kenneth was born on 5 May 1909 in the village of Arthur, Wellington County, Ontario, Canada. He is the son of Sarsfield McDonnell and Hannah Heffernan.

In February 1911, Kenneth and his family moved to Buffalo New York where his father had a new job as saloon keeper.^[1] According to the immigration card at the time, he had fair complexion, light brown hair and blue eyes. ^[2] The family returned to Canada two years later when his father had his first heart problems. Sarsfield passed away in 1915, leaving Kenneth's mother alone to raise a young family.

In 1921, eleven year old Kenneth lived in a rented house in Guelph with his mother and three of his siblings.^[3]

Kenneth became an ordained Roman Catholic priest. He was the founding priest for Our Lady of Fatima parish in Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario. This note was on a website describing the parish:

Our Lady of Fatima Shrine came into being through the dedicated service of Father Kenneth McDonnell, the first pastor at the parish, and his devotion to Our Lady. First housed in a small wooden church serving a community of 400 families in 1953, the parish grew to serve 1300 families and became the church that we see today. After 60 years as a parish community we remain committed to our faith and our Church.^[4]

Father Kenneth McDonnell passed away at the young age of 49 on 26 August 1958, and is buried in the Saint Augustines Seminary Burial Ground, in Scarborough, Toronto.^[5]

Sources

1. ↑ Border Crossing to Buffalo, New York, 1911: "U.S., Border Crossings from Canada to U.S., 1895-1960"
   The National Archives at Washington, D.C.; Washington, D.C.; Manifests of Passengers Arriving at St. Albans, VT, District through Canadian Pacific and Atlantic Ports, 1895-1954; Record Group Title: Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, 1787 - 2004; Record Group Number: 85; Series Number: M1464; Roll Number: 146; Line Number: 14
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry ca Record 1075 #228744 (accessed 20 February 2023)
   Name: Kenneth McDonnell; Gender: Male; Race/Nationality: Irish; Age: 1; Record Type: Manifests; Birth Date: abt 1910; Arrival Date: Feb 1911; Port of Arrival: Buffalo, New York, USA; Residence Country: Canada.
2. ↑ "New York, Northern Arrival Manifests, 1902-1956," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:9392-619S-2N?cc=1876434&wc=39ZM-N38%3A173746801%2C181150302 : 20 May 2016), Buffalo, Lewiston, Niagara Falls, and Rochester > Soundex: M-230 Hirsh to M-235 Peter > image 4378 of 5098; citing NARA microfilm publication M1480 and M1482 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
3. ↑ 1921 Census: "1921 Census of Canada"
   Reference Number: RG 31; Folder Number: 96; Census Place: 96, Wellington North, Ontario; Page Number: 8; Line Number: 16
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry ca Record 8991 #2863331 (accessed 20 February 2023)
   Kenneth Mcdonnell (11), single son, Student, in household of Hannah Mcdonnell (46) at 104 George, Wellington North, Ontario, Canada. Born in Ontario.
4. ↑ Archdiocese of Toronto, Parishes, accessed online 20 Feb 2023, (https://www.archtoronto.org/en/offices-and-ministries/social-justice--outreach/family-of-faith-campaign/home/parishes/) Family of Faith Campaign > Parishes > Our Lady of Fatima Shrine, Scarborough
5. ↑ Memorial: Find a Grave (has image)
   Find A Grave: Memorial #166269022 (accessed 20 February 2023)
   Memorial page for Rev Kenneth McDonnell (5 May 1909-26 Aug 1958), citing Saint Augustines Seminary Burial Ground, Scarborough, Toronto Municipality, Ontario, Canada; Maintained by Laura Langmaid (contributor 49010581).

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