Date of death: 3/28/2017

Saint Meinrad Class: O 1955

Reverend Vito Raymond Lopardo, age 89, and a Roman Catholic priest for over 62 years, was called home to his Lord on Tuesday, March 28, 2017, at 2:40 p.m., at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, Belleville, Illinois. Father Lopardo was born on August 5, 1927, in Pittsburgh, PA and raised at 6412 Frankstown Avenue in East Liberty where his father and grandfather had a shoe shop dating from the late 19th Century into the 1950’s.The son of Anthony and Giovina (nee Sciubba) Lopardo, he attended Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Grade School and Peabody High School in Pittsburgh. He spent two years with the Carmelites in Middletown, New York. He attended St. Henry Seminary in Belleville, Illinois for two years, then St. Meinrad Seminary in St. Meinrad, Indiana for two years of Philosophy and four years of Theology, earning his Bachelor’s degree and Master of Divinity Degree.Father Lopardo was ordained to the Catholic Priesthood by The Most Reverend Albert R. Zuroweste on May 3, 1955, as a member of the largest ordination class in the history of the Diocese of Belleville, Illinois. He served as Assistant Pastor at Sacred Heart Parish in DuQuoin, IL, Immaculate Conception Parish in Columbia, IL, and St. Elizabeth Parish in East St. Louis, IL. During these assignments, he also taught at Sts. Peter and Paul High School in Waterloo, IL, and Mater Dei High School in Breese, IL.Father Lopardo’s first pastorate was at Immaculate Conception Parish in Bridgeport, IL. He also pastored throughout southern Illinois at St. Mary Parish in Harrisburg, St. Mary Parish in Anna, Immaculate Conception Parish in Tamaroa, and St. Joseph Parish in Benton.At the Diocesan level, Father Lopardo was a member of the first Priest Senate of the Diocese, a member of the Vocation Committee, and the first Marriage Preparation Planning Committee. Father Lopardo retired in 1994 for health reasons and had been a resident of Hincke Residence for Priests in Belleville since that time.He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, John Lopardo; and his nephew, Vincent Lopardo.Surviving are his brother, Vincent (Mary) Lopardo of Severna Park, MD; sister-in-law, Lucy Lopardo of Doylestown, PA; nieces, Mary Jean (John) Bodley of Severna Park, MD and Betty Lou (Craig) Wingo of Fairfax, VA; nephew, Robert Lopardo of Ft. Lauderdale, FL; and niece, Catherine (Frank) Gallagher of Doylestown, PA; and several great-nieces, great-nephews, cousins, and friends and colleagues.