Francis Joseph Reilly

Reilly, Rev. Francis Joseph passed away Sept 22, 2011. Fr. Joe was preceded in death by his parents Edward P. & Virginia M. Reilly, and brothers-in-law, Edward W. Gray and Richard D. Harig. He is survived by brothers and sisters, Monsignor Edward W. Reilly, Mary Virginia Gray , Dr. Richard L. (Elizabeth) Reilly, Catherine A. Harig, Margaret E. (Hugh) Burns and John L. (Alicia) Reilly, as well as 23 nieces and nephews, and numerous grandnieces and grandnephews. Fr. Joe was born on Mar 3, 1933 in St. Louis, MO. He attended CBC, graduated from St. Louis Preparatory and Kenrick Seminaries, and was ordained a priest on Mar 22, 1958. He served as an assistant pastor at Our Lady of Sorrows Parish until 1965. He entered the US Air Force as a chaplain in 1965 and served assignments all over the world, including Turkey, Thailand and Spain. While serving stateside in the early 70s, he earned a masters degree in counseling from Troy State University in Troy, AL. In 1985, Fr. Joe retired as a Lieutenant Colonel , and then served as pastors of St. Mary Magdalene Parish, St Louis, MO (1985-1991) and Sts. Philip & James Parish in Ste. Genevieve, MO and St. Catherine's Parish in Coffman, MO (1991-2011). Fr. Joe was beloved for his humor, kindness and generosity. Like his namesake, St. Joseph, he loved carpentry and woodworking; like his other namesake, St. Francis, he showed great love for all of God's creations, and he believed in preaching the Gospel at all times, using words only when necessary. Visitation will be held Wed. Sept 28 at Assumption Catholic Church, 403 N Main St, O'Fallon, MO at 9:00 AM, and a Funeral Mass will follow at 10:00 AM. Interment will be at Calvary Cemetery, St. Louis, MO. In lieu of flowers, donations to Sts. Philip & James Parish,18411 RAV Church Road, Ste. Genevieve, MO 63670, would be greatly appreciated.