
Brother Hilary (David) Hanrahan, O.S.B., a monk of Saint Vincent Archabbey, died Saturday, January 18, 2025. He was born on December 31, 1949 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, a son of the late Bernice (Licari) Hanrahan and the late David Hanrahan.
Surviving are his sisters, Colleen Hanrahan of Grand Rapids and Katherine James of Dorr, Michigan.
Brother Hilary attended Saint Alphonsus Parochial School and is a 1968 graduate of Grand Rapids Catholic High School.
Brother Hilary was a veteran of the United States Army, having served as a supply specialist and unit armorer from 1971 to 1973 as well as a chaplain’s assistant. Following his military service he was a unit inscriber operator for Union Bank and Trust Company (1973-1975), until he entered religious life at Holy Cross Abbey, Cañon City, Colorado. He made his simple profession of vows August 15, 1976, and solemn profession of vows August 12, 1979 at Holy Cross Abbey, where his duties included working as a staff member in the business office. His work included the areas of health insurance, tuition pricing preparation, working with the faculty salary scale, fiscal budgeting and preparation of financial statements for audits. He also served on the Abbey’s Council of Seniors (1983-1984).
While he was a monk of Holy Cross Abbey he attended Saint Vincent College, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting in 1980, with a minor in economics. He then went on to earn a Master of Business Administration degree from Saint Bonaventure University in 1982. Several years later, Brother Hilary transferred to Saint Vincent Archabbey in January of 1985, and his transfer was finalized in May of 1986.
He then took graduate courses in theology at Saint Vincent Seminary in 1985 and 1986.
Brother Hilary worked as assistant director in the Admissions and Financial Aid Office of Saint Vincent College (1985-1986), was a staff accountant for Urish, Popeck and Company, Pittsburgh (1986-1987) and then at Thomson, Shanahan and Company, Latrobe (1987-1989). He became fiscal director for the Renaissance Center for Psycho-Social Rehabilitation, Pittsburgh (1989-1997).
From 1998 to 2001, he served as business manager for the National Association for Treasurers of Religious Institutes, as well as the Conference of Major Superiors of Men, the Legal Resource Center for Religious and the Religious Formation Conference. Based in Silver Spring, Maryland, his duties included reconciliations, employee benefits, investments, budgeting, board reporting and committee work. He was treasurer of the Sisters of Saint Francis, Millvale (2001-2002), director of finance for the Washington Humane Society, Washington, D.C., (2004-2005), director of finance and administration, Christ Child Society of Washington, D.C. (2005-2007), director of finance for Washington Theological Union, Washington, D.C. (2007-2008) and director of financial analysis for The National Trust for Historic Preservation, Washington, D.C. (2012-2013).
Following his last role, he retired to the Archabbey in Latrobe.
The body of Brother Hilary will be received at 3 p.m. Tuesday, January 21, 2025 in Roderick Hall at Saint Vincent Seminary, where viewing will be held from 3 to 5 p.m. in the parlor. A wake service will be held at 7:15 p.m. Tuesday in the Basilica with Archabbot Martin Bartel as celebrant and homilist. Archabbot Martin and members of the monastic community will celebrate a Mass of Christian Burial at 2 p.m. Thursday, January 23, with Father Prior Earl Henry serving as homilist. The Rite of Committal will follow at Saint Vincent Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Benedictine Health and Welfare Fund, Saint Vincent Archabbey, 300 Fraser Purchase Road, Latrobe, PA 15650.
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