Father Stephen P. Cairns, 70, of Toledo, died Thursday, July 19, 2012, at his residence.
He was born Jan. 23, 1942, in Mansfield. He graduated from St. Peter High School in 1960 and attended St. Meinrad College at St. Mienrad Monastery, St. Meinrad, Ind., graduating in 1965. He attended Mount St. Mary Seminary, Cincinnati, graduating in 1969. Steve was ordained as a student priest Aug. 11, 1968, at St. Peter Church, Mansfield.
Father Steve served as priest in the parishes of the Toledo Diocese, namely St. Clement, Toledo, and during the same time taught at Holy Spirit Seminary, Toledo, St. Wendelin Parish, Fostoria, and at the same time taught religion at St. Wendelin High School. Father Steve was pastor at St. Aloysius, Republic and St. Stephen, St. Stephen, St. Richard, Swanton, Little Flower, Toledo and Holy Family, North Baltimore and Cygnet. He was active on the Diocesan Liturgy Committee and the Art and Architecture Committee for many years. Father Steve retired July 1, 2010. He was proud to be a Benedictine Oblate of St. Meinrad Monastery.
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Rev. Cairns
He will be missed by his surviving friends and relatives, who are cousins, especially in the Mansfield, Dayton and Cincinnati areas and his long time friend, co-worker, and care giver, Sister Marguerite Lamberjack.
His body will lie in state 3-7 p.m. Monday, July 23, 2012, at Little Flower Church, 5522 Dorr St., Toledo. Vesper services will be at 7 p.m.
His Mass of Christian burial will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, July 25 at St. Peter Church, Mansfield, celebrated by Bishop Leonard Blair. His body will lie in state beginning at 9 a.m. Wednesday.
Father Steve will be buried alongside his parents in Mansfield, in a casket made by the monks of St. Meinrad Monastery.
Memorials may take the form of contributions to The Priests Retirement Fund, Diocese of Toledo, the Sisters of St. Francis, Tiffin, or to St. Meinrad Monastery, St. Meinrad, Indiana.
Arrangements provided by Coyle Funeral Home, 1770 S. Reynolds Road, Toledo, OH 43614, (419) 865-1295.
Please view and sign the guest registry at www.CoyleFuneralHome.com.
