Beloved Priest Recalled for Humor, Love of Life
Father Kenneth Krause blended a unique sense of humor with uncommon kindness in his ministry, a mixture recalled fondly Wednesday as hundreds paid final respects to one of Orange County’s most popular priests.
Krause was eulogized at a Mass of Christian Burial at Holy Family Cathedral in Orange. He died Friday of pancreatic cancer at the age of 63.
Cardinal Roger M. Mahony of Los Angeles joined several hundred mourners who crowded inside the church, some standing along the sides. Mahony said Krause was “a wonderful and extraordinary priest” who had “a wonderful sense of humor.”
He recalled Krause’s days as a seminarian and class organist. Mahony attended the seminary at the same time but was in a different class.
If one listened closely, the cardinal said, one could make out tunes such as “Yellow Rose of Texas” and “Hound Dog” that Krause would play very slowly and sneak in between hymns.
“Joy is an infallible sign of the presence of God, and Father Ken had joy in abundance,” he said.
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