Reverend Robert J. Conner, Pastor Emeritus, Our Lady of Grace Parish, Penndel, died of Cerebrovascular accident on Sunday, May 6, 2007, at Villa Saint Joseph, Darby.

Father Conner as born on December 20, 1924, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is the son of the late Paul V. Conner and the late Mary Acker. Father Conner attended Saint Bartholomew Parochial School, Philadelphia, and Northeast Catholic High School, Philadelphia, before entering Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary.

Father Conner was ordained on May 26, 1949, by Most Reverend Hugh L. Lamb, at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, Philadelphia. Father Conner served as Parochial Vicar at Saint Patrick Parish, Pottsville; Saint Joseph Parish, Collingdale; Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, Chester; Saint Dorothy Parish, Drexel Hill; Saint John the Baptist Parish, Philadelphia; and Saint Christopher Parish, Philadelphia. In January 1975, Father Conner was appointed Pastor, Saint John Fisher Parish, Boothwyn, were he served for 9 years. In June1984, he was appointed Pastor, Our Lady of Grace Parish, Penndel, and served there for thirteen years until he was appointed Pastor Emeritus in 1999.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated by His Eminence Cardinal Justin Rigali at Our Lady of Grace Parish, Penndel, on Friday, May 11, 2007, at 11:00 a.m. Concelebrating the Funeral Mass will be Reverend Vito J. Carbone, Reverend William B. Dooner, Reverend Michael J. Gerlach, Reverend Charles E. Gormley, Reverend Robert A. Roncase, and Reverend William J. Teverzczuk. Father Gormley will be the homilist.

Father Conner is survived by his sisters, Mary Smyth and Patricia McMahon. Interment will be at Our Lady of Grace Cemetery, Langhorne.

Contact
Bonnie Olinger
Communications Assistant
215-587-3747