Posted April 23, 2021

Father Francis J. Cornely, pastor emeritus of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque Parish in Essington, died April 19 at the age of 100.

He was born on April 16, 1921, in Philadelphia, son of the late Francis J. Cornely and Anna Margaret Powers. He attended St. Laurence School in Upper Darby and West Catholic High School in Philadelphia, before entering St. Charles Borromeo Seminary.

Father Cornely was ordained on May 22, 1948 at the Cathedral of SS. Peter and Paul, Philadelphia by Bishop J. Carroll McCormick.

Father Cornely served as parochial vicar at Mother of Divine Grace Parish, Philadelphia; St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Ambler and Resurrection of Our Lord Parish, Philadelphia. He also served on the faculty at St. John Neuman High School and Cardinal Dougherty High School.

In 1979 Father Cornely was appointed pastor of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque Parish, Essington, and named pastor emeritus in 1996.

Reception of the Body will be held at St. Robert Bellarmine Church, Warrington on Friday, April 23 at 10 a.m. followed by a viewing.

Archbishop Nelson J. Pérez will celebrate the funeral Mass at 11 a.m. Concelebrating the Mass will be Father James F. Endres, Msgr. Daniel J. Sullivan and Msgr. James D. Beisel, who will also be the homilist.

Father Cornely is survived by many nephews and nieces, great- and grand-nieces and nephews.

Interment will be at Calvary Cemetery in West Conshohocken.