Rev. Robert J. Conner, parish priest for 58 years

The Rev. Robert J. Conner, pastor emeritus of Our Lady of Grace Parish, Penndel, who served a number of Philadelphia-area parishes in a 58-year priesthood, died of a stroke Sunday. He was 82.

His most recent assignments were as pastor of St. John Fisher, Boothwyn, Delaware County, starting in 1975, and as pastor of Our Lady of Grace Parish, Penndel, for 13 years starting in 1984.

Prior to that he served parishes in Pottsville, Collingdale, Drexel Hill and Philadelphia.

He was born in Philadelphia, the son of Paul V. Conner and the former Mary Acker. He attended Northeast Catholic High School before entering St. Charles Borromeo Seminary.

He was ordained on May 26, 1949, at the Cathedral Basilica of Ss. Peter and Paul.

He is survived by two sisters, Mary Smyth and Patricia McMahon.

Services: Funeral Mass to be celebrated by Cardinal Justin Rigali, archbishop of Philadelphia, 11 a.m. Friday at Our Lady of Grace Parish. Burial will be in Our Lady of Grace Cemetery, Langhorne. *

- John F. Morrison