Reverend Monsignor Joseph C. Cunningham, Retired, Resident, Villa Saint Joseph, Darby, died on Wednesday, December 21, 2011.

Monsignor Cunningham was born on August 30, 1944, in Darby, Pennsylvania. He is the son of the late Charles H. Cunningham and the late M. Colletta Collins. Monsignor Cunningham attended Saint Joseph Parochial School, Collingdale, Monsignor Bonner High School, Drexel Hill, and Saint Joseph's College, before entering Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary.

Monsignor Cunningham was ordained on May 15, 1971, at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, Philadelphia, by His Eminence John Cardinal Krol. He was named Chaplain to His Holiness Pope John Paul II on April 24, 1982, and named Honorary Prelate of His Holiness Pope John Paul II on December 18, 1985. Monsignor Cunningham served as Parochial Vicar at Holy Cross Parish, Springfield. He also served as Chaplain, Cardinal O'Hara High School, Springfield. He served as Assistant Controller, Controller, and as Vicar for Financial Affairs for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. In 1989, Monsignor Cunningham was appointed Pastor, Saint Isaac Jogues Parish, Wayne, where he served until his retirement in January 2009.

The Reception of the Body will be held at Saint Isaac Jogues Church, Wayne, on Friday, December 30, 2011, at 8:00 AM, followed by a viewing. Most Reverend Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap. will celebrate a Funeral Mass for Monsignor Cunningham at Saint Isaac Jogues Church, Wayne, on Friday, December 30, 2011, at 11:00 AM. Concelebrating the Funeral Mass will be Most Reverend Joseph F. Martino, Retired, Diocese of Scranton, Reverend Monsignor Andrew J. Golias,
Reverend James T. McCabe, Reverend Monsignor Michael P. McCormac, Reverend Monsignor John M. Savinski, Reverend Monsignor Thomas J. Skindeleski, Diocese of Palm Beach, and Reverend Karl A. Zeuner. Monsignor McCormac will be the homilist.
Monsignor Cunningham is survived by his sisters, Regina Schuster and Mary Theresa Shell and his nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. Interment will be held at Saints Peter and Paul Cemetery, Springfield.

Contact
Bonnie Olinger
Communications Assistant
215-587-3747