Fr. Thomas W. Neville Jr.

July 4, 1919 - July 6, 2012

Rev. Thomas W. Neville, age 93 a Diocesan Priest of Rockford, Illinois for sixty years and a retired priest living in Columbus, Ohio, died Friday, July 6, 2012 at Mohun Health Care Center at Ohio Dominican University in Columbus. Thomas was born in Chicago on July 4, 1919, the son of the late Thomas Warren and Elvira Marie (Beck) Neville, the second of their five children. Father Neville attended St. Michael’s Grade School and Lane Technical High School In Chicago, Illinois. He was attending Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois when he was drafted into the U.S. Army on December 8, 1941, the day after the Pearl Harbor attack. He proudly served as Staff Sergeant in the US Army Medical Corps from Dec. 8, 1941 to Nov. 8, 1945 and served in the Pacific Campaign in WWII. Following WWII, Father Neville entered and graduated from Loras PreSeminary College, in Dubuque, Iowa. He then attended St. Mary Seminary, in Roland Park, Maryland for his theological studies which he completed in 1952. Father was ordained March 19, 1952 by Bishop John J. Boylan. He faithfully served as Associate Pastor: (1952-1954) St. Patrick Parish, St. Charles; (1954-1957) St. Catherine Parish, Dundee; (1957-1959) St. Monica Parish, Carpentersville; He then served as Pastor: (1959-1964) St. Ambrose Parish, Erie, St. Catherine Parish, Prophetstown; (1964-1970) St. Monica Parish, Carpentersville, where he built a new church in 1968, (1970-1989) St. Joseph Parish, Richmond; (1989-1998) Saints Peter and Paul Parish, Virgil from where he retired at age 79 to Vianney Oaks Priests’ Retirement Home in Rockford. In 2007 Father moved to Columbus, Ohio to live near his sister and her family. Father Neville was a charter member, chaplain and Fourth Degree Knight, Knights of Columbus Council #8366 of Richmond and was honored to be a Friar Knight. He was a charter member of V.F.W. in Richmond serving as commander/chaplain for two years, Illinois State Chaplain for almost 20 years, National Chaplain for two years, member of Paul C. Hoffman American Legion Post #253, and former member of the Richmond Rotary Club. In 1986, he completed two Master’s degrees, one in Theological Studies awarded by the University of Dayton and Master of Divinity degree from St. Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore, Maryland. Father Tom enjoyed taking his boat named TWAJN (Thomas Warren Anthony Joseph Neville) for fishing out on the Fox River and Twin Lakes. He was also an avid Cubs, Bears and Illini fan and loved his pipe, music and toolbox! He enjoyed celebrating Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City, visiting Ireland, the WWII Memorial in Washington, D.C. and spending time with his nieces and nephews. Father is survived by his loving sister, Rosemarie De Libera of Columbus, fifteen nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by two sisters, Marion Brown and Marjorie Albert, brother Robert B. Neville, and his brothers-in-law, with whom he was very close. The Mass of Resurrection will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday July 11, 2012 at St. Joseph Catholic Church 10519 Main St. Richmond with Bishops David Malloy and Thomas Doran con-celebrating. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 pm Tuesday at Ehorn-Adams Funeral Home 10011 Main St, Richmond, IL. Interment will be in St. Joseph Cemetery in Richmond with military honors. Memorials may be made to St. Joseph Catholic Church, Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Virgil, IL, or Vianney Oaks in Rockford, IL. Father Neville lived his life by his two favorite mottos: “To Jesus Through Mary” and “For God and For Country”