Date of death: 3/5/2014
Saint Meinrad Class: O 1976
Rev. David A. Hillier, 63, of Shippensburg, PA died unexpectedly March 5, 2014. Born in New Brunswick, NJ, Father David was the son of the late Andrew J. and Margaret T. (Murphy) Hillier.A 1968 graduate of Metuchen High School, Metuchen, NJ., Fr. David received his B.A. in English from Saint Meinrad College, IN, and Masters of Divinity Degree from Saint Meinrad School of Theology.A Catholic Priest with the Diocese of Harrisburg, Fr. David was ordained May 22, 1976 at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Trenton, NJ. He served as Deacon and Associate Pastor at St. Francis Cathedral, Metuchen NJ 1975-81; Associate Pastor at St. Rose of Lima, Freehold, NJ 1981-85, St. Paul’s Church, Princeton, NJ 1985-90, Chaplain at Trenton State College, Ewing, NJ and Trenton Psychiatric Hospital, Trenton, NJ 1990-96, Associate Pastor Epiphany Church, Brick, NJ 1997-98, Pastor at Church of the Ascension, Bradley Beach, NJ 1998-2002, Parochial Vicar at St. John Neumann Church, Lancaster, PA 2003-06, Pastor at Our Lady of the Visitation and Campus Minister at Shippensburg University, Shippensburg, PA.He was Retreat Director at Mount St. Mary’s Academy 1979-85, and Co-Founder and retreat master of The Winter Sabbath (Young Adult) Retreat 1985-95.Fr. David enjoyed reading, music, movies, and theatre. He loved working with the students at Shippensburg University, and all the parishioners of the churches to which he was assigned.Fr. David is survived by his sister, Patricia Ann, wife of Anthony R. DiSturco, Williamsville, NY, nieces, Michelle Miller, Maria and Melanie DiSturco, and great-nephews, Grayson and Emerson.Mass of Christian Burial will be held Tuesday, March 11, 2014 at 11 AM at Our Lady of Visitation Catholic Church, 305 N. Prince St., Shippensburg, PA with Rev. Joseph Scheib as Celebrant. A closed casket visitation will take place one hour prior to the service. Private interment will take place in St. Gertrude Cemetery, Iselin, NJ. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Fr. Hillier’s memory may be made to Our Lady of Visitation Catholic Church at the above address. To send an online condolence, visit SnyderFuneralHome.com.