ATLANTA--Father Philibert J. O'Hara, MS, a former associate pastor at St. Ann's Church in Marietta, died March 17 at St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center, Hartford, Conn.

A Mass of Christian Burial was concelebrated March 20 in LaSalette Chapel in Hartford with burial following at Mount St. Benedict Cemetery in Bloomfield, Conn.

Father O'Hara, 80, had undergone cancer surgery March 11.

Father O'Hara, more familiarly known as "Father Phil," had a long and varied life as a member of The Missionaries of Our Lady of LaSalette. After entering LaSalette Seminary in 1928, he studied for the priesthood in Altamont, N.Y., and at Gregorian University in Rome.

After being ordained June 7, 1941, at Immaculate Conception Cathedral, in Albany, N. Y., he served as teacher and director at the congregation's minor seminary in Hartford, and then first superior and treasurer of LaSalette Junior College in Altamont.

While serving as superior and director of the major seminary in Ipswich, Mass., he also was provincial counselor of the province. He was elected vicar general of the congregation and worked in Rome from 1964 until 1970.

He came to Georgia in the 1970s with Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Atlanta the first of several parishes he was to serve here. From there he moved to Blessed Sacrament Parish in southwest Atlanta, residing there while he was assigned as priest for the Marriage Encounter movement for the Southeast.

In 1978 he was assigned as pastor at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Cartersville. After four years there he went back to Rome as general treasurer of the congregation. On his return to Atlanta he served at St. Andrew's in Roswell, All Saints in Dunwoody, and St. John the Evangelist in Hapeville before going to St. Ann's in January, 1989.

Father Ron Gagne, MS, parochial vicar at St. Ann, in his homily for the funeral Mass said, "In his years as priest, teacher, administrator, (Father O'Hara) literally went around the world, spreading the message of Our Lady of LaSalette."

He went on to say that Father O'Hara realized, while stationed in Rome, that "first-hand ministry with people was where he wanted to be. For the next 32 years, he did that."

Father Gagne told The Georgia Bulletin that Father O'Hara was "a pastorally-centered person...and a witness to the enduring life of faith."

He remained "intent on what he was doing" as a priest as he aged, Father Gagne said, and continued to celebrate Mass with the assistance of a deacon.

"He was showing how to grow old gracefully and faithfully."

Father O'Hara celebrated 50 years as a LaSalette in May, 1991. He retired and moved to the LaSalette Hartford residence in late 1993.

There will be a Month's Mind celebration for Father O'Hara at St. Ann's on Wednesday, April 10, at 7:30 p.m.

Father O'Hara was born in Torrington, Conn., May 1, 1915, son of the late Peter and Alice Dube O'Hara.

He is survived by two sisters, Margaret O'Hara of Bristol, Conn., and Mary Kowalick of Bowie, Md.

Contributions in his memory can be made to Missionaries of Our Lady of LaSalette Retirement Fund, 85 New Park Ave., Hartford, Conn., 06016.