1894 – 1958 (July 23)
Francis J. Casey was born in Lawrence, Massachusetts, on March 13, 1894, to Francis Casey and Susan Riley, and was baptized at St. Mary’s Church by Father Valiquette, O.S.A. He attended St. Mary’s Parish School and St. John High School in Danvers, and then entered St. Rita’s Hall, Villanova, in September, 1914. He was accepted into the novitiate at Villanova, in June, 1915, and professed simple vows on June 25, 1916. He made his solemn profession on the same day in 1919. He obtained his AB degree from Villanova in June, 1918, and pursued theological studies. Francis was ordained to the priesthood by Cardinal Dougherty in the Cathedral of Philadelphia on June 10, 1922.
Father Casey was first assigned, in 1922, to Saint Augustine's in Havana, Cuba. The following year he was sent to Immaculate Conception Parish, Hoosick Falls, and in 1925, to the Saint Nicholas of Tolentine, the Bronx, both in New York. He was transferred to Saint Thomas of Villanova Parish in Rosemont, PA. in 1928, and the following year was appointed sub-master at Good Counsel Novitiate in New Hamburgh, N.Y. Other assignments included Saint Patrick Parish, Cambridge, and Saint James Parish, Carthage, both in New York, Lawrence, Massachusetts, Chestnut Hill, PA., and Detroit, Michigan.
Poor health, including Parkinson’s disease, finally forced Father Casey to retire to the Villanova Monastery in 1955. He died of a cerebral hemorrhage, on July 23, 1958 in Philadelphia's Fitzgerald-Mercy Hospital at the age of 64. Following a Requiem Mass on Saturday, July 26th at Villanova, Father Casey was buried in the Community Cemetery at Villanova.
