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Brother Christopher Varley, O.F.M. Cap., who spent years looking after the residents of Manhattan’s Lower East Side, died Aug. 9 in Dobbs Ferry. He was 74.
Brother Christopher, served at Our Lady of Sorrows Friary, 1970-1985. While he cared for his own community as cook, sacristan and porter, he also helped the parish by coordinating the Legion of Mary, the Holy Name Society and other ministries including teaching religion in the school. He helped form a community organization to deal with neighborhood housing problems and aided the local precinct as auxiliary police chaplain.
He also served in Manhattan at Our Lady Queen of Angels, 1986-1987 and 1996-2006, and at St. John the Baptist, 1988-1996.
He was a missioner to Guam.
He served the community at St. Clare’s Friary, 2007-2008, San Souci Rehabilitation Center, 2008-2009, and St. Joseph’s Nursing Home, 2009-2013, all in Yonkers.
He was the cook for his community, ministered to secular Franciscans and taught religion at a friary in Milton, Mass., 1967-1970.
Born in Brooklyn, he entered the Capuchins Franciscans in 1960 and professed final vows in 1964.
He is survived by his sister, Ann Marie Varley-Gilligan.
A Funeral Mass was offered Aug. 12 at Sacred Heart Church, Yonkers. Burial was at St. Mary’s Friar Cemetery, also in Yonkers.
