Obituary of Monsignor Joseph Petrillo

Rev. Monsignor Joseph Petrillo, 65 - Rev. Monsignor Joseph Petrillo, 65, was called into eternal life on Friday December 20, 2013. Visitation will take place on Monday December 23, 2013 at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, 1 Eagle Rock Ave. in West Orange from 2:00- 7:00 PM with a Vigil Mass at 7:30 PM. There will be additional visitation on Tuesday December 24, 2013 from 9:00- 9:45 AM, followed by the Funeral Mass at 10:00 AM. Interment will follow at Maryrest Cemetery in Mahwah. Arrangements are by The Dangler Funeral Home of West Orange, 340 Main Street, West Orange 07052. Monsignor was born in Jersey City and lived there and in Union City. He graduated from Saint Michael's High School in Union City and completed undergraduate studies at Jersey City State College and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree. He attained his Master of Divinity degree from Immaculate Conception, Darlington School of Theology. Prior to entering the seminary, he taught at two elementary schools in the Newark Archdiocese Saint Anthony's, Union City and Saint Peter's in River Edge. Monsignor's diaconate year was spent at Saint Mary's in Nutley. He was Ordained to the Priesthood on May 28, 1977 by Most Rev. Peter L. Gerety, D.D. Monsignor's long faithful service started as Parochial Vicar at Assumption Parish in Roselle Park from 1977 to 1983, he was the Chaplin at Mother Seton Regional High School in Clark from 1987-1989, on the Presbyteral Council for the Archdiocese of Newark in Newark from 1988-1991, he was the Director of St. Joseph of the Palisades School in West New York form 1989-1998 as well as the Parochial Vicar at St. Joseph of the Palisades in West New York, he was in residence at St. Aloysius Parish in Jersey City form 1994-1998, on staff at Oratory Catholic Preparatory School in Summit form 1998-2001. Monsignor Petrillo was currently the Pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Church in West Orange, where he has been serving since 2001. On June 5, 2009 he was given the honor of Chaplin of his Holiness. Monsignor has also been serving in Newark for the Archdiocese as Executive Director of Clergy Personnel since 2005, he has also been the Spiritual Director for the Essex-West Hudson Federation of Holy Name since 2012. Monsignor Petrillo was especially proud of attaining his Masters of Education from Boston College and of serving as Principal and teacher of St. Joseph's High School. Monsignor had a special devotion to the many religious sisters that he called his friends. He looked forward to and enjoyed his frequent visits to The Sisters of Charity in Convent Station, the Dominican Nuns in Summit and the Filippini Sisters in Morristown as well as his visits with the priests and brothers at Delbarton. He also cherished the time he spent with parishioners and friends in West Orange and will be greatly missed by "the good people of Our Lady of Lourdes". Monsignor is survived by his Aunt Dorothy Moran, cousins; Angela and Roberta Petrillo ., his loving niece Susan Petersen and many cousins.