Rev. Kenneth J. Tunny, 85

A funeral Mass was offered April 12 at Blessed Sacrament Church, Albany, for Rev. Kenneth Tunny, who died April 9. He was 85 and had been a priest of the Albany Diocese for nearly 54 years.

A native of Albany, he was a U.S. Navy Korean War veteran whose assignments as a priest included associate pastor of St. Joseph's parish in Schenectady and St. Teresa of Avila in Albany; diocesan director of the Christian Family Movement; pastor of St. Joseph's, Albany; serving at St. Paul the Apostle, Schenectady; chaplaincy at Russell Sage College in Troy, The University at Albany and Hospice of Schenectady; pastor of St. Catherine's, Middleburgh; and sacramental minister at St. Gabriel's, Rotterdam.

Father Tunny also spent more than 25 years in pastoral counseling through the diocesan Consultation Center and was a coach for several Catholic schools. He retired in 2006.

"Ken had a love for learning and would take any opportunity he could to learn more and to develop his skills," noted the Diocese in reporting his passing.

That was certainly true in his encounters with The Evangelist. Interviewed about attending Spring Enrichment one year, he enthused about keynoter Rev. Michael Himes' talk on "reasons for the existence of the Catholic Church" and said that, as a diocesan priest, he felt responsible to "keep up with the latest ideas on the theology of the Catholic Church."

As someone who never stopped learning, Father Tunny had a lot to teach. May the lessons and encouragement he gave to so many live on as he rests in the arms of God.

Survivors include a brother, Gerald. Interment was at St. Agnes Cemetery, Menands.[[In-content Ad]]