CUMBERLAND —Father Lawrence E. Toole, 90, Pastor Emeritus of the former Saint Patrick Parish, Cumberland passed away peacefully with his family by his side, on Holy Thursday, April 17, 2025.
Born in Providence, son of the late Austin A. and Mary M. (Horan) Toole, he attended St. Joseph School and St. Raphael Academy in Pawtucket, Providence College, and School of St. Philip Neri in Boston, Massachusetts. In preparation for the priesthood, he studied at Our Lady of Providence Seminary in Warwick and at Saint John Seminary in Brighton, Massachusetts. He was ordained a priest on June 3, 1967 at the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul in Providence.
After a summer assignment at Holy Angels Parish in Barrington, Father Toole served as assistant pastor in the following parishes: St. Francis de Sales, North Kingstown (1967-73); St. Brendan, East Providence (1973-81); the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul, Providence (1981-83); and St. Philip, Greenville (1983-85). In December 1985, he was appointed pastor of St. Anthony Parish in Portsmouth, and in 1992 was transferred to St. Pius X Parish in Westerly.
In 1998, Father Toole became the pastor of St. Patrick Parish in Cumberland and remained there until his retirement as Pastor Emeritus in 2015. In retirement, Father resided in Pawtucket, Rhode Island and Tockwotten on the Waterfront, East Providence.
He is survived by his sister, Ann Toole. He also leaves his nieces and nephew, Susan O’Halloran (Tim), Mary Ellen Wians (Stuart), Elizabeth Larcom (Charles), Carolyn Bancroft (Glenn), and Stephen Toole, as well as 16 great nieces & nephews, and 8 great-great nieces & nephews. He was predeceased by his nephew Austin Toole, Jr. (Kim) and his brother Austin Toole, and sister Helen Toole.
A concelebrated Mass of Christian Burial for the repose of Father’s soul was offered on April 23, at St. Joseph Church, Pawtucket with burial in Gate of Heaven Cemetery, East Providence.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Jeanne Jugan Residence, Little Sisters of the Poor, 964 Main St, Pawtucket, RI 02860.
