1929 – 2023 (August 31)
Edward John Dixey, O.S.A., was born on May 31, 1929, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the son of Joseph N. and Mary A. (Walsh) Dixey. He had two brothers and one sister. He was baptized on June 15, 1929, at Saint Vincent’s Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He attended St. Barnabas Parish School (1935-1940), and Most Blessed Sacrament Parish School (1940-1943), and West Catholic High School, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (1943-1947). He served two years in the United States Army (1947-1949). He then attended Villanova College from 1949 to 1952. He was received into the Order as a novice on September 9, 1952, and after a year at Good Counsel Novitiate, New Hamburg, New York, he professed first vows on September 10, 1953. He then returned to Villanova University (1953-1954) and received a BA in Philosophy. He then went to Augustinian College, Washington, DC, for his theological studies from 1954 to 1958, and received an MA in Religious Education. He professed solemn vows on September 10, 1956. He was ordained to the priesthood on June 8, 1957, at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, DC, by Bishop John McNamara.
Fr. Ed was first assigned to Saint Joseph Friary and Msgr. Bonner High School, Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania, where he taught from 1958 to 1965. In 1965 he was assigned to Saint Mary’s Hall, the Augustinian Collegiate Seminary, Villanova University, where he was the sub-master of professed from 1965 to 1969. He returned to Msgr. Bonner High School, to teach from 1969 to 1970, and then returned to Saint Mary’s Hall as the Master of Professed from 1970 to 1975 and was also the Director of the Augustinian Seminary Guild. In 1975 he was appointed associate pastor at Saint Genevieve Parish, Flourtown, Pennsylvania from 1975 to 1979. He returned again to Saint Joseph Friary and Msgr. Bonner High School (1979-1982). From 1982 to 2008, Fr. Ed served in various parishes of the Province: Immaculate Conception Parish, Hoosick Falls, New York (1982-1987); Our Mother of Consolation, Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (1987-1994); Saint Thomas Parish, Rosemont-Villanova, Pennsylvania (1994); Saint Augustine Parish, Troy, New York (1998-2002); Assumption/Saint Paul Parish, Mechanicville, New York (2002-2008); from 2005 to 2008 he lived at Saint Mary Parish, Waterford, New York, and served at both the Mechanicville and Waterford parishes. He served as the Prior of Saint Thomas Monastery, Villanova University, from 1994 to 1998. In 2008 he was assigned to Saint Augustine Friary, Villanova, Pennsylvania, and served as weekend assistant at various parishes of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. In February 2022, he was transferred to the St. Thomas of Villanova Monastery where he continued to participate in community activities as he was able. Fr. Ed faced the decline in his physical mobility, the way he faced everything in life, with a peaceful and prayerful demeanor. He passed away peacefully on August 31, 2023 at Genesis Wayne Center.
Funeral arrangements for
Fr. Edward J. Dixey, O.S.A. are as follows:
Viewing and Funeral Mass:
Thursday, September 7, 2023
St. Thomas of Villanova Church
Villanova University Campus
800 E. Lancaster Ave.
Villanova, PA
9:00 -10:30 AM (Viewing)
10:30 AM (Mass)
Burial:
Following the Funeral Mass
Thursday, September 7, 2023
Calvary Cemetery
West Conshohocken, PA
