Thomas Joseph Robillard

OGDENSBURG, N.Y. — Monsignor Thomas Joseph Robillard, 91, died at Claxton Hepburn Hospital in Ogdensburg, N.Y., March 19, 2009. A funeral Mass will be celebrated Monday, March 23, 2009, at St. Mary's Cathedral in Ogdensburg, N.Y. Monsignor Robert Lawler, vicar general and pastor of St. Mary's Waddington and St. John the Baptist, Madrid, will preside at the liturgy with priests of the Diocese concelebrating. Rev. Andrew Amyot, pastor of Church of the Visitation, Norwood, will be the homilist.

Calling hours will be Sunday, March 22, at Buck's Funeral Home, Norfolk, N.Y., from 2 to 4 p.m. There will be a transfer of the body to the Church of the Visitation, Norfolk, at 6 p.m., with a Vespers service at 7 p.m., with calling hours until 9 p.m. On Monday morning, the body will be transferred to St. Mary's Cathedral in Ogdensburg, with calling hours from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Burial will be at St. Mary's Cathedral cemetery in the spring.

Monsignor Robillard was born in Ogdensburg, N.Y., son of the late Henry Joseph Robillard and Mary Helen Revell. He attended St. Mary's Academy grade school and high school in Ogdensburg, N.Y., graduating in June 1936. He began his studies for priesthood at Wadhams Hall on Hamilton Street in Ogdensburg. He then entered St. Bernard's Seminary in Rochester, N.Y. He was ordained to priesthood on June 3, 1944, at St. Mary's Cathedral by Bishop Bryan J. McEntegart.

His first assignment was at the Church of the Assumption, Redford, N.Y., followed by our Lady of Victory Church, Plattsburgh. He was named pastor of St. Henry's Church, DeKalb Junction, St. Mary's Church, Constableville, St. Mary's of the Fort Church, Fort Covington, St. John the Baptist Church, Keeseville, St. Catherine's Church, Keeseville, St. Francis Solanus Church, Harrisville, St. Rita's, Lake Bonaparte, St. Martin's Church, Port Leyden and St. John's Church, Lyons Falls. He was appointed Dean of Lewis Deanery in 1982 and continued as Dean until his retirement. He was appointed Honorary Prelate June 27, 1989, by Pope John Paul II. Monsignor Robillard retired in 1993 and resided at Church of the Assumption parish in Norfolk with Rev. Andrew Amyot, pastor.

Monsignor Robillard is survived by two brothers, Patrick, Ogdensburg, N.Y., Paul and Emma Robillard, Ogdensburg; two sisters, Mrs. Marie Dowdle, Madrid, currently residing in St. Joseph's Home, Ogdensburg, Sister Mary Henrita, Corpus Christi, Texas; as well as nephews and cousins.