Kind. Compassionate. Humorous. Engaging. Irreplaceable. Members of St. Francis parish used all of those words last week to describe retired Father Michael Guglielmelli, who died in a car crash in Monmouth County over the weekend.
Guglielmelli age 81, a born and raised Hoboken resident, died alongside his sister Dolores “Dora” Guglielmelli, age 87, Sunday night after a car accident on Route 537. They were riding in a Dodge Caravan that was rear-ended at a red light by a 19-year-old driver in a pickup truck, according to the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office. Both siblings were transported to CentraState Medical Center where they were pronounced dead later that evening.
The 19-year-old has not been charged.
Another sister, Antoinette (Shirley) Galling, who had been in the car, was still in intensive care last week and required several surgeries, according to Fr. Chris Panlilio.
A funeral for Guglielmelli and his sister will be held on Thursday June 15 at 11 a.m. at St Francis Church at the corner of Third and Jefferson streets. There will also be a viewing on Wednesday June 14 at the church from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. and a vigil mass that evening at 7 p.m.
A mass was held in Hoboken on Tuesday in which mourners gathered in prayer to remember their pastor and friend.
Hoboken’s tearful goodbye
Mourners placed flowers outside the church statue of St. Francis at the corner of Third and Jefferson Streets last week. That corner is also known as “Father Michael Guglielmelli Way.”
Guglielmelli grew up a block from the church. He led the congregation for nearly 30 years before he retired at the end of 2012 at the age of 76.
Ordained in 1970 as a member in the Order of Friars Minor Conventual (OFM Conv), Guglielmelli was assigned to his home parish first as an associate pastor in 1972 then as pastor in September of 1988 through 2013.
Guglielmelli also helped start the church’s AA meetings for those with substance abuse problems and began initiatives to serve the poor, including handing out approximately 5,000 lunches yearly to the poor and homeless and creating a food pantry with supplies for families in need.
“He can be credited with helping thousands of men and women through AA or helping the homeless,” said neighbor and Holy Name Society member Rocco Riccardi of the priest’s initiatives. “All you had to do was knock on the door and they would always give you a sandwich.”
Even after his retirement, his presence was still felt, as Guglielmelli still officiated over the occasional mass at St. Francis and preformed baptisms and funerals.
“Even though we moved out of Hoboken years ago, if we heard Fr. Michael would be at Sunday Mass, we would drive the 30 minutes to be there,” said Christopher Metcalfe of Bergen County. “I’ve known him since I was in elementary school…and now I’m 47 years old and I still quote things he would say in my daily life.”
“He spoke from his heart and kept everyone engaged,” said Metcalfe. “It sounds corny but when you were there and he was speaking, you felt you were in the presence of God.”
Many parishioners said what they would miss most of all was his customary hug and kiss at the end of mass each Sunday.”
“I can still feel him hugging me, whispering in my ear ‘I love you kid,” said Metcalfe. “When you left church you felt so good. Ready to tackle the world. That hug was so special. No one can hold a candle to him.”
“He was a neighborhood guy,” said Riccardi. “He was friends with everyone no matter who you were or what religion you were.”
“There was a period in time in my life I didn’t go to church and he brought me back,” he said. “He grabbed me one day outside of church and asked why I didn’t come any more… So one day I surprised him sitting there in the back. And after mass he gave me such a big hug and kiss on the cheek. He’s the reason I’m with the Holy Name Society.”
“He always seemed to be talking to me when talking to the congregation. A lot of people would say that Fr. Michael was long-winded, but I could listen to him for hours,” said Michael Canarozzi.
“Father Michael had a gift of making everyone feel great,” said Hoboken resident Toni Anne Calderone. “I’ve known him most of my life. We lived across the street from one another for many years. He always made a point to stop and say hello and give one of his famous Father Mike hugs.”
“He’s involved in so many precious family memories,” she added. “He was a part of my son’s Baptism, Communion, and Confirmation this past May. Hoboken has lost a legend. He taught us compassion. He taught us love. He taught us faith. The void created by his passing is indescribable. I’m heartbroken.”
“Fr. Mike was one of the greatest things in the community. We lost the heart of our community, we lost the neighborhood,” said parishioner Stewart Chirichella. “I cant put into words how he helped me.”
Mayor Dawn Zimmer ordered all the flags be flown at half-mast last week after hearing of his passing.
“He was such an important part of our community a warm person who made everyone feel welcome,” Tweeted Zimmer. “I have ordered flags to fly at half staff in his honor.”
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“He would want us to be happy and think of the good times we shared with him.”—Benny Love
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“It’s absolutely devastating to have learned [of his passing,] Councilman Michael Russo said. “He has been in my life since birth. He baptized me and my daughter Lia. He was there through my entire religious upbringing and was like family. He helped me through good times and bad ones, especially the most recent passing of my mom. Every Sunday after mass I would make sure to get my hug as I left.”
“He was my priest for my whole life,” said 14-year-old Benny Love. “I think what I’ll miss the most is the fact that he was always happy. No matter what room he was in, he always brought joy and light there. Fr. Mike would never want us to be sad or cry. He would want us to be happy and think of the good times we shared with him.”
Standing room only
On Tuesday, parishioners lined the aisles, balcony, and entryway, as there were not enough seats for the hundreds who attended.
“Your faith gets tested sometimes,” said Gregory Gallina, nephew of Shirley Galling.“The message tonight is really, if you believe God knows better than us, then he brought him home fore a reason.”
Fr. Chris Panlilio, who has led St. Francis since Guglielmelli’s retirement, said, “when they brought me to St. Francis I knew I had big shoes to fill…The love he shared with all of you and the life he lived with you is a part of his legacy.”
Fr. Joe Scarangella led the parish in a community hug in remembrance of father Michael.
“I’d like to see everyone turn to a neighbor and give that person a Father Michael hug whether you know them or not,” said Scarangella.
The mass ended as parishioners sang a favorite hymn of Guglielmelli’s, “How great thou art.”
Marilyn Baer can be reached at marilynb@hudsonreporter.com.
