COVID-19 limits attendance for Fr. Cooney’s funeral
Funeral services for the Rev. Michael Cooney will be held Friday, but the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic will restrict the amount of people who are allowed to attend.
The beloved, highly visible pastor of St. Peter Catholic Church in Mount Clemens died Thanksgiving Day at the age of 72. He had been having health issues and recently contracted the virus.
And because of the coronavirus and the need for social distancing, attendance for the funeral will be restricted.
“Unfortunately, due to COVID regulations, seating is very, very limited,” a notice on the church’s website said.
A Scripture service will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday and the funeral Mass will follow at 11 a.m. Friday.
Sign-up sheets to reserve a spot are available on the church’s website, but only a few will be available. One is for seating in the church, the other is for the social hall.
The funeral will be livestreamed into the hall.
Detroit Archbishop Allen Vigneron, a friend and former seminary classmate of the Rev. Cooney, is expected to attend the service.
Fondly known as “Father
Mike,” Cooney had served as pastor of the historic church since 1990. He also had served as parochial vicar of St. Suzanne/ Our Lady Gate of Heaven Parish in Detroit; St. Malachy Parish in Sterling Heights; St. Basil the Great Parish in Eastpointe; and National Shrine of the Little Flower Basilica Parish, Royal Oak.
He was widely known and respected among Detroit-area first responders.
The Mount Clemens Fire Department will have a fire truck at the church, said Capt. Thomas Moceri.
“We’re going to at the very least pay our respects to Fr. Cooney that way,” he said.
Cooney also served as the chair of the Mount Clemens Civil Service Commission, according to Mayor Laura Kropp. She said the Macomb County Sheriff’s Office was still awaiting word on whether its Honor Guard would be part of the service.
“We stand ready to participate in whatever form the church will allow,” Mayor Kropp said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the St. Peter parish because we know Fr. Cooney was an integral part of our community.”
The sign-up sheets for the Scripture service and funeral are available at stpetermtclemens.com/frmichael