Fr. John Mackey Fee, SSCC, an ordained member of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary in Fairhaven, Mass., died at Sacred Heart Nursing Home in New Bedford, Mass., on April 11 after an extended illness.

Fr. Fee, who celebrated his 86th birthday on Sept. 25, was one of three sons born to Margaret (Sullivan) and John Fee in South River, N.J. Fr. Fee is survived by his brother James (Marie) of Farmington Hills and several nieces and nephews. His brother Joseph died in September 2011.

Fr. Fee, who this past year celebrated his 60th anniversary of profession, took his temporary vows in Fairhaven on Sept. 14, 1951, and professed his final vows in Jaffrey, N.H. on Sept. 14, 1954. He was ordained a priest on June 8, 1956.

In 1957, Fr. Fee was given his first SSCC appointment as a teacher at Bishop Amat High School in Glendora, Calif., where he taught for six years and eventually was selected to be the treasurer of the school. In 1963, he returned to Massachusetts to serve as assistant pastor at Holy Trinity in Harwich, Our Lady of Lourdes in Wellfleet and at St. Mary’s in Fairhaven, later assisting with Enthronement work in Washington, D.C. In 1988, Fr. Fee requested and was granted assignment to the Archdiocese of Detroit, where he served for 23 years at parishes including Mother Cabrini, St. Simon & Jude and Queen of Peace in Harper Woods.

In 2010, Fr. Fee retired to Damien Residence in Fairhaven.

A funeral Mass was celebrated for Fr. Fee at St. Joseph’s Church in Fairhaven on April 18. Burial is in the Sacred Hearts Community Cemetery.