Rev. Msgr. Joseph P. Meehan, 81, died peacefully on Friday, December 18, 2009 at the Ferncliff Nursing Home in Rhinebeck.

Born in Yonkers on March 13, 1928, he was the son of Joseph and Winifred Kenny Meehan.  He attended Cathedral High School and St. Joseph's Seminary, Dunwoodie.  He was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of New York on May 14, 1954 and received his Masters Degree from Iona College in 1966. Father Meehan's first assignment was at St. Mary's Church in Newburgh from 1954-1962 and then he served at Our Lady of Mercy Church in Port Chester from 1962-1976.  In 1976, he became the Pastor of St. Denis Church in Hopewell Junction.   During this time, he was instrumental in the construction of the rectory at St. Columba, as well as construction of St. Columba Church and the addition at St. Denis Church.  In 1990, he served as a Parochial Vicar at St. Augustine Church in Larchmont and as a Temporary Administrator at Holy Trinity Church in Manhattan. On August 14, 1990 he was granted the Prelate of Honor of His Holiness by Pope John Paul II. From 1990 until his retirement in 2006, Msgr. Meehan served as the Pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Suffern.

Msgr. Meehan is survived by his sister, Eileen Tobin of Wappingers Falls; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, great, great-nieces and great, great-nephews.

Calling hours will be held on Sunday from 3 to 7 p.m. at St. Columba Church, 835 Route 82, Hopewell Junction. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday at 9:30 a.m. at St. Columba Chruch with Archbishop Timothy Dolan officiating.  Interment will follow in St. Denis Cemetery, Hopewell Junction.  Arrangements are under the direction of the McHoul Funeral Home, Inc., 895 Route 82, Hopewell Junction.

Memorial donations may be made to St. Denis – St. Columba School, PO Box 428, Hopewell Junction, NY  12533.