Rev. Gerald A. Kelleher, 77

Devoted Father to his son


Rev. Gerald A. Kelleher, 77 of Aston, died November 18, 2011 at The Wallingford Nursing Home.
Born in Philadelphia, he lived in Essington and has been a resident of Aston for 19 years.

Jerry was a graduate of St. Thomas Moore High School, Class of 1952 where he was named to the All City and All Catholic Football teams. He was accepted at The U.S. Naval Academy on a football scholarship, but chose to enter St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, where he was ordained a priest in May 1963.

He served as a Missionary with the Maryknoll Fathers in Caracas, Venezuela where he studied at the Language Institute in Huehuetenango, Guatemala. Upon his return to the states, he was a devoted bi-lingual priest of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia until 1991. He was a Counselor for Northwestern Human Services for 16 years, retiring in 2007. Rev. Kelleher was Co-Founder of Take Back the Streets Program, an anti-drug program that began with all night neighborhood watches.
An avid reader, he also enjoyed carpentry, football and was a former lifeguard in Avalon.

Jerry was husband of the late Mary McGinn Kelleher, who died June 11, 1999 and son of the late Andrew J. and Regina Welding Kelleher.

Survivors: his son Andrew G. Kelleher, siblings Andrew J. Kelleher (Marlene) and Ann Clawson (Scott), his father-in-law James J. McGinn, brother-in-law James J. McGinn, Jr. , sister-in-law Kathleen Presloid and six nieces and three nephews.

Funeral Mass 10:00AM Saturday at The Church of St. Joseph, 3255 Concord Rd., Aston.

Visitation 7 to 9PM Friday and 8:30 to 9:15AM Saturday at the White-Luttrell Funeral Home, 3551 Concord Rd., Aston.

Burial SS. Peter and Paul Cemetery.

Memorial gifts may be made to the American Cancer Society.