Gerald Brendan O'Donohue

Gerald Brendan O'Donohue, 81, affectionately known as "Opa", passed into eternal life on Thursday, December 30th, 2021. He was born February 3rd, 1940 to Irish Immigrants, Daniel and Mollie (Keating) in Detroit, Michigan. On October 3rd, 1964, he married the love of his life, Jeanne (Sullivan) and they went on to live and celebrate 57 years of holy, joyful marriage together. Opa's greatest joys were his Catholic faith and his family. Never afraid to advocate for truth and goodness, he was the pillar of wisdom, strength, and great love upon which so many leaned and made this world a much more loving place. His life was a model of humble servitude and faith which he expressed with great wit and gentle love.

He is survived by his wife, Jeanne; his 11 children, Shane, Brendan, Siobhan (Rick Herrmann), Corrigan (Sandy), Deirdre (Jeff Dolowy), Garrett (Noelle), Columcille (Cassi), Declan (Dina), Liam (Kathryn), Kiernan, and Kian (Christina); 51 grandchildren; 5 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his siblings Margaret Whitehead and Joan Buchanan and sister-in-law, Mary O'Donohue and his wife’s siblings Carol Sullivan, Peggy Gray, Joseph Sullivan, Mike Sullivan (Joan) and many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Daniel and brothers-in-law Kenneth Whitehead, Thomas Buchanan, and Gary Gray.

The family will receive visitors on Monday, January 3rd from 3:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Harry J. Will Funeral Home (37000 Six Mile Rd, Livonia, MI 48152) with Rosary at 7:00 p.m. Funeral Mass will be at St. Michael the Archangel Roman Catholic Church (11441 Hubbard, Livonia, MI 48150) at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 4th followed by burial service at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery (25800 W 10 Mile Rd, Southfield, MI).