Clarence Robert Cummins, affectionately known to many as Deacon Larry, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, August 12, 2015, surrounded by family, friends and caregivers at the Community Hospice House in Merrimack, NH. Born August 22, 1940 to the late Robert and Eleanor (Bergeron) Cummins in Cleveland, OH, he graduated from St. Ignatius High School (Cleveland, OH) and received his BS in Mathematics and Education and MA in Personnel and Guidance Counseling from John Carroll University (University Heights, OH). A lover of both literature and mathematics, Larry taught high school math in Ohio before moving to his natural calling of guidance counselor and guidance director at Catholic high schools in Ohio (St. Joseph High School, Cleveland) and New Hampshire (Bishop Guertin, Nashua).
Commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Reserves, he served two years active duty at Ft. Eustis, VA, in the active Reserves for another 18 years, and as Liaison Officer for West Point upon his retirement at the rank of Major. He was a recipient of the prestigious U.S. Armed Forces Meritorious Service Medal in addition to many other citations. He was also involved in the Boy Scouts of America for over 30 years, receiving both the Wood Badge and the St. George’s Award.
Deeply devoted to pastoral ministry, Larry was ordained a Permanent Deacon in the Catholic Church on June 17, 1979 and served as a Deacon at St. John Vianney (Mentor, OH), St. Ann Parish (Manchester, NH), Parish of the Resurrection (Nashua, NH), St. Charles Parish (Meredith, NH), and St. Matthew Parish (Windham, NH). He served as Director of Religious Education at both St. Charles Parish and St. Matthew Parish, and directed the Confirmation Class and Adult Formation at St. Elizabeth Seton Parish (Bedford, NH). Deacon Larry walked the life of fellowship, providing spiritual guidance, delivering poignant homilies, welcoming new members of the church through the sacrament of baptism, and participating in community service efforts such as the Corpus Christi Food Pantry. In recent years, Larry was particularly fond of gathering, reflecting, and praying with the Saturday morning men's groups.
The source of inspiration for his beloved "TLC 4 & 8" license plate, Larry is survived by his loving wife, Theresa (Dorley), with whom he celebrated 49 years of marriage on July 16, his 4 children whose weddings he performed, and his 8 grandchildren whom he baptized: son John and his wife Michele of Nashua, NH; daughter Virginia Forgét, her husband Bob, and their children, Bobby, Benjamin and Trinity of Naples, FL; daughter Sylvia Sewade, her husband Shane, and their children Madison and Colin of Nashua, NH; and son James, his wife Courtney, and their daughters Lily, Gracyn, and Parker of Ipswich, MA. He was also blessed with three brother-in-laws, Russell Dorley, Francis Dorley, and James Dorley (all of Portsmouth, NH) and numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, his brother Thomas Cummins, and his sister Mary Catherine Cummins.
SERVICES: Visiting hours will be from 3:00-7:00pm on Sunday, August 16, 2015 at Parish of the Resurrection, 449 Broad St., Nashua, NH 03063. Funeral services will be held on Monday, August 17, 2015 at 10:00am at Parish of the Resurrection. A private burial service will follow at the New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery in Boscawen, NH. In lieu of flowers, those who wish may make a memorial contribution to the Community Hospice House (Home Health & Hospice Care, 7 Executive Park Drive, Merrimack, NH 03054) and Parish of the Resurrection.