Monsignor Thomas Keys died Wednesday in his native Northern Ireland

Monsignor Thomas Keys, a longtime leader in the Roman Catholic diocese in Santa Rosa, died Wednesday in his native Northern Ireland.

Keys had a stroke in 2010 while leading the Star of the Valley parish in Oakmont and in March returned to his hometown of Derry in Northern Ireland.

After being ordained in Northern Ireland in 1970, he was sent to serve in the Diocese of Santa Rosa. He worked in various capacities until he retired from active ministry three years ago because of illness.

A memorial mass will be celebrated Wednesday at 10 a.m. at St. Eugene's Cathedral in Santa Rosa.

On the same day, a funeral mass and burial will take place at St. Columb's Cathedral in Londonderry, Northern Ireland.

Lafferty & Smith Colonial Chapel is collecting messages and cards to mail to his family at 4321 Sonoma Highway, Santa Rosa, 94509.