Rev. Philip DeChico M.Div.

Rev. Philip DeChico, M.Div. BONNEAUVILLE The Rev. Philip DeChico, M.Div., 57, pastor of St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church, Bonneauville, Pa., entered God's eternal care, Saturday, February 25, 2006, at the Hanover Hospital. Born August 15, 1948, in Harrisburg, Pa., he was the son of the late Philip and Ruth DeChico. Rev. DeChico attended St. Patrick Cathedral Elementary School and Bishop McDevitt High School before being appointed to St. Mark's Seminary in 1965 to finish his last year in high school. Remaining at Saint Mark's for two additional years he attended Gannon College before being transferred to St. Mary's College, St. Mary, Kentucky, to complete his B.A. degree in philosophy. Philip did his theology studies at the Pontifical College Josephinum in Worthington, Ohio, from 1970 to 1974, earning the Master of Divinity degree, and being ordained April 27, 1974. The last of his formal education was done at the University of Scranton in Scranton, Pa., in secondary education, earning certification in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in secondary administration and social studies. He attended the University of Scranton in the evenings during his assignment to Our Lady of Lourdes Regional High School in Shamokin, Pa. Other assignments in his career include: assistant pastor at St. Joseph Church, York, Pa., from 1974 1976; assistant to the principal at Our Lady of Lourdes Regional High School, Shamokin, Pa., 1976 1979; principal at Our Lady of Lourdes Regional High School, Shamokin, Pa., 1979 1986; administrator at St. John the Baptist Church, Mt. Carmel, Pa., 1979 1986; principal at Lebanon Catholic High School 1986 1996; parochial vicar at St. Catherine Laboure Parish, Harrisburg, Pa., 1997 1998; and pastor at St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church, (Bonneauville) Gettysburg, Pa., 1998 present as well as Catholic campus minister Gettysburg College, Gettysburg, Pa., from 1998 to the present. Philip is survived by one sister, Florence Dienno and her husband Ernest; one niece, Linda Somers and her husband Michael; one nephew, Eric Somers; two great-nieces, Lynne Goldberg, her husband David and their children, Alyssa and Joshua, Donna Conklin and her husband Matthew and their children Timothy and Bradley. He was preceded in death by one brother, Samuel Meyers. A funeral liturgy will be held 7 p.m. Thursday, March 2, 2006, at St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church, 10 East Hanover Street, Bonneauville, Pa., with the Rev. Joseph F. Gotwalt as celebrant. A viewing will be held from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, March 3, 2006, at the church. A Mass of Christian burial will be held 11 a.m. Friday, March 3, 2006, at St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church, 10 East Hanover Street, Bonneauville, Pa., with the Most Reverend Kevin C. Rhoades, Bishop of the Diocese of Harrisburg as celebrant. A second viewing will also be held from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Friday, March 3, 2006, at the church. Burial will be at 3:30 p.m. Friday, March 3, 2006, in the Dauphin Cemetery, Dauphin, Pa. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Rev. DeChico's name may be made to St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church, 10 East Hanover Street, Gettysburg, PA 17325. The Kenworthy Funeral Home Inc., 66 East Hanover Street, Bonneauville, Pa., is assisting the family with the funeral arrangements.