1921- 2021

Reverend Francis J. Cornely, Pastor Emeritus, Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque Parish, Essington, died on Monday, April 19, 2021, at the age of 100.

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

Father Cornely was ordained on May 22, 1948, at The Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, Philadelphia by Most Reverend J. Carroll McCormick . Father Cornely served as Parochial Vicar, Mother of Divine Grace Parish, Philadelphia; Saint Anthony of Padua Parish, Ambler; Resurrection of Our Lord Parish, Philadelphia. He also served on the Faculty at Saint John Neuman High School and Cardinal Dougherty High School. In 1979 Father Cornely was appointed Pastor of Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque Parish, Essington, and named Pastor Emeritus in 1996.

Reception of the Body will be held at Saint Robert Bellarmine Church, Warrington, on Friday, April 23, 2021 at 10:00 A.M. followed by a viewing. Most Reverend Nelson J. Pérez will celebrate a Funeral Mass for Father Cornely at 11:00 A.M. Concelebrating the Funeral Mass will be Reverend James F. Endres, Reverend Monsignor Daniel J. Sullivan and Reverend Monsignor James D. Beisel will 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.