REVEREND EDMOND J. SPEITEL
1925 – 2019
Reverend Edmond J. Speitel, Pastor Emeritus, Saint Philip Neri Parish, Pennsburg, died on Tuesday, April 2, 2019.
Father Speitel was born on July 26, 1925, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is the son of the late Edmond J. Speitel and the late Lillian (Kohlschreiber) Speitel. Father Speitel attended Saint Helena Parochial School, Philadelphia, and LaSalle College High School, Philadelphia before entering Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary.
Father Speitel was ordained on May 19, 1955 at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, Philadelphia, by Most Reverend John F. O’Hara, C.S.C. Father Speitel served as Parochial Vicar at All Saints Chapel, Philadelphia and Saint John the Evangelist Parish, Philadelphia. He then served on the faculty of Saint John Neumann High School, Philadelphia and Cardinal Dougherty High School, Philadelphia. He then served as a Chaplain in the United States Army, from which he retired as a Colonel. He returned to the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and served as Parochial Vicar at Saint Isaac Jogues Parish, Wayne and Pastor at Saint Michael the Archangel Parish, Levittown. In 1993, Father Speitel was appointed Pastor, Saint Philip Neri Parish, Pennsburg, and named Pastor Emeritus there in 1996. He then served as Senior Priest at Our Lady of Charity Parish, Brookhaven.
The Reception of the Body will be held at Saint James Church, Elkins Park on Tuesday, April 9, 2019 at 8:30 AM, followed by a viewing. Most Reverend Robert P. Maginnis will celebrate a Funeral Mass for Father Speitel at 11:00 AM. Among those concelebrating the Funeral Mass will be Reverend Wilfred Maloney, Reverend Francis Kelly, Reverend Raju Pilla, Reverend Edward Windhaus, Reverend Mark Speitel (Harrisburg Diocese) and Reverend Jeffrey Stecz will be the homilist.
Father Speitel is survived by his sisters: Claire Bonner, Ann McCann, Helene Spause and sister-in-law, Rosemarie Speitel and many nephews and nieces. Interment will be at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Cheltenham, Pennsylvania.