Reverend Vito Raymond Lopardo, age 89, born August 5, 1927, in Pittsburgh, Pa., was called home to his Lord on Tuesday, March 28, 2017, at 2:40 p.m., at St. Elizabeth's Hospital, Belleville, Ill.

The son of Anthony and Giovina, nee Schubba, Lopardo, he attended Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Grade School and Peabody High School in Pittsburgh. He spent two years with the Carmelites in Middleton, N.Y. He attended St. Henry Seminary in Belleville, Ill. for two years, then St. Meinrad Seminary in St. Meinrad, Ind. 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, Ill. He served as Assistant Pastor at Sacred Heart Parish in DuQuoin, Ill., Immaculate Conception Parish in Columbia, Ill., and St. Elizabeth Parish in East St. Louis, Ill. During these assignments, he also taught at Sts. Peter and Paul High School in Waterloo, Ill., and Mater Dei High School in Breese, Ill.

Father Lopardo's first pastorate was at Immaculate Conception Parish in Bridgeport, Ill. 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 has 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., nephew Robert Lopardo of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., nieces Catherine (Frank) Gallagher of Doylestown, Pa., Betty Jo (Craig) Wingo of Fairfax, Va., and Mary Jean (John) Bodley of Severna Park, Md., several great nieces, great nephews, cousins, and friends and colleagues.

Memorial donations in Father Lopardo's name may be made to St. Jude's Children's Hospital ( www.stjude.org ) 501 St. Jude Pl., Memphis, TN 38105 or Make-A-Wish Foundation ( www.illinois.wish.org ) Make-A-Wish® Illinois, 640 N. LaSalle Dr., Suite 280, Chicago, IL 60654, or may be mailed to Wolfersberger Funeral Home.

Father Lopardo donated his body for medical research to St. Louis University, St. Louis, Mo. At his request, there will be no public memorial services.