Obituary of Monsignor Francis X. Frey

Monsignor Francis X. Frey, 85, died on August 29, 2014, at the Family Hospice and Palliative Care Center in Mount Lebanon, PA. He was born in Pittsburgh, PA, on December 7, 1928, and grew up in the Shadyside neighborhood of Pittsburgh. He was the ninth of thirteen children born to J.W.A Frey and Ellen M. (Andrew) Frey. In Pittsburgh, he attended Sacred Heart Grade School and was a member of the Central Catholic High School class of 1946. He attended Duquesne University for 2 years, then transferred to St. Francis of Loretto Seminary, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree. He worked for a short period of time with his father at the Houlihan & Frey meatpacking company in the Polish Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh. He also worked for a period of time at the Duquesne Brewery in Pittsburgh. He attended St. Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology in St. Meinrad, Indiana, studying to become a Benedictine brother. While serving as a novice at the St. Meinrad Archabby, he discovered his vocation to become a parish priest. He was sponsored by the Diocese of Amarillo, Texas (from which was later formed the Diocese of San Angelo) to attend St. Francis of Loretto Seminary. He was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Amarillo on May 31, 1958, at St. Paul’s Cathedral in Pittsburgh. He celebrated his First Solemn Mass June 1, 1958, at St. Bernard Church in Mount Lebanon, PA. After his ordination, he began 51 years of active priestly ministry in West Texas. He served in the parishes of St. Elizabeth, Lubbock; St. Mary, Amarillo; St. Anthony, Dalhart; Sacred Heart Cathedral, Amarillo; St. Agnes, Fort Stockton; St. Lawrence, Garden City; Our Lady of Lourdes, Andrews; and St. Mary, Odessa. He resigned as pastor of St. Mary Church in Odessa on February 9, 2009, at the age of 80. He was quoted at age 79 as saying, "I could have retired 10 years ago but it's too much fun!" He was given the honorary title of Monsignor by Pope Benedict XVI in 2009. He retired first to Houston, where he lived with his Brother Thomas and his wife Sue Frey, then to South Fayette Township (Bridgeville), PA, where he lived with his sister Alice Kenawell. He became a member of St. Barbara Parish and celebrated daily Mass at Holy Child Parish in Bridgeville. He loved gardening and travelling. He led pilgrimages to Lourdes and Fatima. He is survived by his siblings Charles Frey (Kathy), Thomas Frey (Sue), Bernard Frey (Irene), Ellen Pry and Alice Kenawell and sister-in-law Lorraine Frey (Ambrose). He was predeceased by siblings John Frey, George Frey, William Frey, Ambrose Frey, Fr. Lawrence J. Frey, Sister Marie Frey and Catherine A. Jansen and in-laws Mary Margaret Frey (John), Mary Katherine Frey (George), Bernie Jansen (Catherine), Gerald J. Pry (Ellen) and Charles R. Kenawell (Alice). He is also survived by many of his 77 nephews and nieces, grand nephews and nieces, and his favorite dog Amber. Family and friends will be received on Monday from 2-9 PM at Holy Child Parish, 212 Station Street, Bridgeville, where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday at NOON. Arrangements entrusted to the Warchol Funeral Home Inc. (412)221-3333 A memorial mass will be held at St. Mary Church, Odessa, after which he will be interred in the columbarium at St. Mary Church. Arrangements are pending. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Family Hospice and Palliative Care, Holy Child Parish or the charity of your choice. Family and friends will be received on Monday from 2-9 PM at Holy Child Parish, 212 Station Street, Bridgeville, where a Mass of Christian Buiral will be celebrated on Tuesday at NOON.