Our brother Jerome Dunn, OFM Cap., died peacefully just before sunrise on Saturday, September 17, the feast of the Stigmata of St. Francis of Assisi, at St. Augustine Friary, Pittsburgh. He was 88 years of age when he answered the final call of God who was his strength and his peace.
Jerome was born on August 3, 1934, in Turton, South Dakota, the third of ten children born to his father, John, and mother Julia (Klapperich). Raised to share the hard work of running the family farm, the young man was educated in the public schools of Turton, and after his high school graduation in 1952, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy, proudly serving four years on active duty and another four in the Naval Reserve before receiving his honorable discharge. He was employed as a metalworker in Vernon, CA, from 1956 until his admission to St. Fidelis College Seminary in 1960, without a doubt, the oldest of among his classmates.
Jerome entered the Capuchin Novitiate at St. Conrad Friary in Annapolis, MD., where he received the religious name Bruce upon his investiture and by which he was known for the following six years until the friars of the Province were permitted to reclaim their baptismal names in 1968. Following his profession of vows in 1963, Jerome returned to complete his college degree at St. Fidelis before his studies of theology for the priesthood at our Capuchin College in Washington, DC. He was ordained to priesthood in Salina, KS, on October 19, 1968 by Salina’s bishop Cyril J. Vogel.
Jerome’s generous attitude kept him moving during his years of ordained ministry, serving for periods in Victoria, KS; Rochester PA; Wheeling WV; Mineral City, OH; and in an extended periods in Cumberland MD. He kept busy! One comment from a fraternal visitation by the Provincial Minister noted that “for a friar in pastoral supply, Jerry does a lot!” Much of it was through his own initiative, such as developing a successful run of family enrichment ministry from several different friaries. By far, though, the majority of his time in active ministry was spent at St. Augustine Friary in Pittsburgh, fulfilling a variety of needs for administering the Sacraments and as chaplain in the Diocese from 1972 through 1991. For more than twelve years he served the Secular Franciscans as Spiritual Assistant in Ohio, Maryland and Pennsylvania.
Our brother Jerome was a deeply spiritual man, possessed of a compassionate and kindly heart.
Testimonies of his caring and at times surprisingly tender concern, and of small and often unexpected kindnesses for those who were fearful, suffering or disheartened are sown throughout his time in active ministry. For those who did not know him, or did not know him well, this may have been difficult to see: his direct manner, austere appearance, strong, gravelly voice and lack of guile could truly be challenging. The contrast between his appearance and his genuine pastoral concern for others at times caused him to be misunderstood or misjudged, but he always resolved such occurrences with equanimity and respect for all concerned.
He was a Capuchin straight through, and he took his vows seriously. His habit was his only clothing, worn all day long, every day from his rising to his bedtime. His long. traditionally Capuchin beard was present long before it became popular with the hipster generation. He wore his sandals year-round. until the arthritis that tormented him in his later years forced him to wear more forgiving footgear. Most of all, he was ever faithful to prayer, both in common with the friars and in private, making every effort to be present in the chapel at the prescribed times even when it became more and more difficult to do so because of his physical limitations. He was personally accustomed to pain and suffering, having been diagnosed with severe degenerative arthritis in the 1990s, yet he was determined to maintain active ministry long as possible until it became obvious that he could no longer accept the strain of his commitments. He returned once again to St. Augustine Friary in Pittsburgh in 2010, and what would prove to be the final chapter of his life.
His last years were largely spent managing his pain and receiving what palliative care was available. He tried to make good use of his computer, which suffered regular breakdowns from mysterious infusions of peanut butter in its keyboard; his curiosity was stronger than his tech-savvy.
Above all, though, Jerome found his best comfort in offering his limitations and struggles to the crucified Christ.
On his 50th year Golden Jubilee as a priest friar in 2018, he wrote: “I thank our Most Holy Trinity for calling me to be a Capuchin. I am eternally grateful toward the Most Holy Trinity for everything he has given me.”
Our brother was preceded in death by his parents, John W. and Julia, brothers William and Jack, and sisters Margaret (Peggy) Darling, Marianne Hedglen and Marjorie (Margie) Lang. He is survived by his brothers James and Joseph; his sisters Patricia Troske and Julie Hehir, and numerous nieces and nephews.
The friars of St. Augustine friary received Jerome’s body on Friday afternoon, September 23, 2022, in the friary Chapel of St. Margaret of Cortona where an evening Vigil Service was celebrated.
Provincial Minister Bob Marva, OFM Cap., celebrated the Mass of Christian Burial on Saturday, September 24th in the Chapel, with his burial in the friars’ plot at St. Augustine Cemetery, Shaler Township, PA, followed the celebration.
Memorial donations to honor
the life and work of our brother Jerome
may be made online
to the Capuchin Franciscan Friars
or to the address in the footer below.