Rev. Francis J. Pileggi, OSFS (1933-2026)

Rev. Francis J. Pileggi, OSFS

With sadness, but with faith in the Resurrection, we announce that our brother, Rev. Francis J. Pileggi, OSFS, passed away on Saturday, April 25, 2026.   

Fr. Pileggi was a professed member of the Oblates for 73 years and a priest for almost 65 years.  A teacher, parochial vicar, and friend to all, Fr. Pileggi was a dedicated Oblate and priest.  As a devoted son of Saint Francis de Sales, Father Pileggi showed generations of students and families the Salesian approach to friendship.

Born in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania, on May 2, 1933, he was the son of Joseph Pileggi and Marian (Grato) Pileggi. He attended Rose Hill School and was first introduced to the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales at the Italian parish in Wilmington, DE, St. Anthony of Padua Church.  Frank continued his Oblate connections while attending nearby Salesianum School.  Following graduation in 1951, he entered the Oblate community and made his first profession of vows in 1952.  As a seminarian, he was a student teacher at Northeast Catholic High School for Boys.  It was the beginning of a long relationship with the Salesian gentlemen of Torresdale Avenue.   

In 1958, Frank earned a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from The Catholic University of America (Washington, D.C.).  He also attended De Sales School of Theology at The Catholic University of America. He was ordained to the priesthood by Oblate Bishop Edward Schlotterback on June 3, 1961, at St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Wilmington, DE.

After ordination, Fr. Pileggi went back to North Catholic as a math teacher.  The following year, he was assigned to Judge Memorial High School (Salt Lake City, UT) and Salesian High School (Detroit, MI).  In the 1970s, Fr. Pileggi moved into parish life and served as parochial vicar at various parishes in New Jersey:  Sacred Heart Church (Riverton), St. Francis of Assisi Church (Vineland), and Corpus Christi Church (Carney’s Point).   

In 1975, Fr. Pileggi returned to the ministry of secondary education when he returned to North Catholic.   While teaching theology to sophomores, he was also the moderator of the North Catholic Fathers and Mothers Association (FAMA).  In 1983, he was named the North Catholic “Man of the Year.”  

In addition to his duties at school, Fr. Pileggi helped the Oblate community in many important fundraising positions.  He was the local coordinator for the DeSales Seminary Association, which helped support the young men in formation.  For 22 years, he served as Director of the DeSales Guild of Philadelphia.  The Guild was a dedicated group of laypeople who met monthly to spread the Salesian virtues of friendship and hospitality.  Known for their many trips and pilgrimages, the group supported the Oblates both financially and spiritually.   

Fr. Pileggi was a Fourth-Degree member of the Knights of Columbus and was Chaplain at St. Pius X Council in Wilmington, DE.  

When the North Catholic faculty house closed in 2000, Fr. Pileggi returned to Wilmington and became a staff member at Salesianum School.   For the next 18 years, Fr. Pileggi was a strong Salesian presence for the students, faculty, and staff of his alma mater.  There, as he had everywhere he went, Fr. Pileggi greeted everyone he encountered as “friend.” Whether in the library or the lunchroom, Fr. Pileggi was teaching a new generation about charity, friendship, and faith.   

In 2023, as he entered his 90s and his health began to decline, Fr. Pileggi retired to the Oblate residence at Childs, Maryland.  He continued to keep his many connections and enjoyed sharing long dinners with family and friends. He remained in touch with many former students and colleagues from Salesianum and North Catholic.   

Fr. Pileggi is preceded in death by his parents, his brother Nick, and his sisters, Mary and Joann. He is survived by his older sister, Theresa DiSimplico.  

Fr. Pileggi spent his life recognizing the presence of God in his family, his friends, and the people to whom and with whom he ministered.  May the Lord, his good friend and shepherd, welcome him home. 

Arrangements:

The viewing for Fr. Pileggi will be held on Thursday, April 30, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at St. Anthony of Padua in Wilmington, DE.  The Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 11:00 AM.  Burial will follow in the Oblate plot at Cathedral Cemetery in Wilmington.