George A. Risden

George A. Risden - Father George Risden, a priest of the Diocese of Santa Rosa since his ordination on March 10, 1984, passed away on October 26, 2007, from heart complications. He had struggled with heart and other health issues over these past eighteen months. His mother and step father were with him when he passed away at the Sotoyome Campus of Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital. Father Risden was born, August 22, 1945 in Chicago, Illinois, to George and LaVerne Risden. He attended Catholic elementary school and high school in the Chicago area and graduated in 1968 from Loyola University, Chicago, with a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy. He joined the Conventual Franciscans in 1963 and was a professed member of that religious community until 1983. During that time he received a Masters in Religious Education from Loyola University, Chicago, and his Teachers Credentials from the University of California at Riverside. He was a teacher and principal in Southern California at schools run by the Conventual Franciscans. In 1979 Father Risden, at the time a Conventual Franciscan Brother, came to the Diocese of Santa Rosa to be the principal at St. Bernardchr(39)s High School in Eureka. While continuing as a principal at St. Bernardchr(39)s, he was appointed Superintendent for Catholic Schools of the Diocese of Santa Rosa and he served in that capacity until 1984. During his time as Superintendent he pursued and completed his studies in Theology paving the way for his Ordination to the Priesthood on March 10, 1984, at the Cathedral of St. Eugene, by the late Most Reverend Mark Hurley, Bishop of Santa Rosa. His first assignment was as Principal of Cardinal Newman High School, Santa Rosa, where he served in that capacity until 1988. Then Father Risden began priestly ministry in parishes serving as Administrator at St. Marychr(39)s, Arcata; St. Josephchr(39)s, Middletown; Our Lady of Good Counsel, Fort Bragg; and as Pastor at St. Vincent de Paul, Petaluma and our Lady, Queen of Peach, Clearlake. In 1997, following open heart surgery, for the next four years he ministered as a chaplain at Hanna Boys Center, Sonoma, and as Associate Pastor at St. Apollinaris Parish, Napa. For a few months in the summer of 2000 he acted as Superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Diocese of Santa Rosa. In August, 2000 he was appointed Pastor of St. Josephchr(39)s, Crescent City. He ministered at this parish until June of this year when his ailing health led him to take a disability leave for health reasons. Father George had a dry sense of humor but was loved and respected by all those whose lives he touched. He is survived by his mother, LaVerne Davis and his step father, Jack Davis of Colorado Springs, Colorado and by his sisters, Barbara Van Kirk of Roxbury, Connecticut and Deborah Stumph of Monument, Colorado and a niece and a nephew. The Vigil Service will be held, Monday, October 29, 2007 at 7:00 P.M. at the Cathedral of St. Eugene, 2323 Montgomery Drive, Santa Rosa, California. The Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday, October 30, 2007 at 11:00 A.M. at the Cathedral of St. Eugene. The Most Reverend Daniel F. Walsh, Bishop of the Diocese of Santa Rosa will be the principal Celebrant. Committal will follow the Mass at the Priest Plot at Calvary Catholic Cemetery, Santa Rosa, California.