Obituaries

Deacon Harper of St. Athanasius Parish dies at 67, known for spirituality, service

Deacon Sidney M. Harper, 67, a permanent deacon for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, died June 29. Born in Philadelphia the son of William and Edna Harper, he attended St. Elizabeth School, Holy Child School and Cardinal Dougherty High School and Cheney University. “Our parents weren’t Catholic, but we went to Catholic school and were raised Catholic,” said his sister, Beverly Harper. “My parents insisted we go to Mass every Sunday, and every morning, before anyone else was awake, Sidney and my mother would pray together.”

Sister Frances, Catholic school teacher since 1942, dies at 93

Sister M. Frances Cabrini, formerly Elda Anna Berardocco, died June 24 in Camilla Hall, Immaculata. She was 93 and in her 72nd year of religious life. Born in Philadelphia, Sister Frances entered the congregation in 1941 from St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Philadelphia and professed her first vows in 1943. From 1942 until 1958 she […]

Father Peter E. Campbell, member of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart and author

The Rev. Peter E. Campbell, MSC, a member of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, 79, of Asbury Gardens, North Aurora, IL, passed away peacefully on Monday, July 1, 2013 at Presence Mercy Center, Aurora, IL. Fr. Peter was parochial vicar at St. John the Baptist Parish, Revere (Ottsville), PA from 1961-1965. During his retirement years Fr. Peter achieved […]

Lifelong Philadelphian and Tacony parishioner Anna Legin dies at 100

Anna J. Legin, 100, of Philadelphia died June 27 at Deer Meadows Nursing Home in Northeast Philadelphia. She was a member of Our Lady of Consolation Parish in the Tacony section of Philadelphia.

La Salle U. professor and band leader Brother Thomas McPhillips dies at 63

Brother Thomas McPhillips, F.S.C., a La Salle University biology professor who also moderated the jazz and pep bands, died June 6, in his sleep at a Christian Brothers’ residence on North 12th Street in Philadelphia. He was 63. The funeral Mass will be celebrated Tuesday, June 11 in the De La Salle Chapel at the […]

Father Aloysius Grass, C.M., former St. Thomas More H.S. principal, dies at 90

Vincentian Father Aloysius P. Grass died June 4 at St. Vincent’s Seminary in Philadelphia’s Germantown section. He was 90, and a priest for 62 years.  Father Grass served in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia at St. Thomas More High School in 1957 as prefect of discipline and then as principal from 1963 to 1969. From 1973 to […]

Catholic schools advocate Sister Patricia Spingler, I.H.M., dies at 71

Sister M. K. Patricia Spingler, I.H.M., formerly Sister Patricia Marian, I.H.M., died in Camilla Hall, Immaculata, on June 3 in the 53rd year of her religious life. She was 71 years old.

Sister Maria Benedicta Blaine, I.H.M., nurse for over 60 years, dies at 89

Sister Maria Benedicta, formerly Anna Mary (Nancy) Blaine, died on May 15, 2013 in Camilla Hall, Immaculata, Pa., in the 67th year of her religious life. She was 89 years old. Born in Chester, Pa., Sister Maria Benedicta entered the congregation in 1946 from Immaculate Heart Parish, Chester, and professed her first vows in 1948.  She entered […]

Sister Mary Owen Mulhern, I.H.M., teacher, principal, dies at 91

Sister Mary Owen, I.H.M., formerly Elizabeth T. Mulhern died May 2nd in Camilla Hall,  Immaculata, Pa. in the 71st year of her religious life. She was 91 years old. Born in Philadelphia, Pa., Sister entered the Congregation of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in 1941 from Transfiguration Parish, Philadelphia, and professed her first […]

Sister Adorata Basara of the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters Third Order Regular of St. Francis, dies

Sister Adorata Basara of the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters Third Order Regular of St Francis, died April 20 at St. Joseph Villa, Mt. Alvernia, Reading, PA, where she had resided since 2007. Born in Manayunk, Pa., she was a daughter of the late Louis and Mary (Kozak) Basara. Sister Adorata entered the Bernardine Order on Feb. […]