Dr. Francis X. "Frank", Sr. Keeley

Keeley Dr. Francis X. "Frank", Sr. Dr. Francis X. "Frank" Keeley, Sr., beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend died peacefully at his home in Haddonfield, NJ, on October 20, 2025. Frank was preceded in death by his wife Marie T. "Mimi" Keeley, the love of his life with whom he built a life full of faith and purpose during their 70 years of marriage. Born to George A. and Elizabeth N. Keeley in Philadelphia on November 11, 1927, Frank was a proud native of the West Oak Lane neighborhood where he attended St. Athanasias School and Parish as a boy. As was common with so many of his generation, wherever he went in his youth, he did so by walking barefoot uphill in the snow both ways, with only half a cheese sandwich for sustenance. In late 1944, at age 17, Frank volunteered for the U.S. Navy. After his discharge from the service in 1946, the G.I. Bill made it possible for him to be the first in his family to go to college. A proud and loyal graduate of St. Joseph's Preparatory School (1945), St. Joseph's College (now University) (1950), and Hahnemann (now Drexel) University School of Medicine (1956), Frank completed his medical residency at Thomas Jefferson University. He was dedicated to his profession, running a private gastroenterology practice and serving for 20 years as Chief of Medicine at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Camden, NJ. He was also a clinical professor at Thomas Jefferson University and a trustee of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. Frank was deeply committed to his faith as a longtime parishioner at Christ the King Catholic Church in Haddonfield. He was appointed a Knight of St. Gregory by Bishop George Guilfoyle in 1982 and received the St. Luke Award for leadership in Catholic health in 2004. Frank's relationships with his patients gave him far greater joy than any accolades. He always ran behind schedule in large part because he took such a keen interest in his patients and their well-being. He truly loved working with his patients, staff, and colleagues. But nothing gave Frank greater joy than spending time with family. He cherished big family gatherings, from summers at the Shore to Christmas in Haddonfield, where he would don a Santa cap and sit his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren on his lap as they each received presents. He loved keeping busy and was a man of numerous hobbies. These included gardening, birding, sailing, tennis, watching St. Joe's basketball (THWND!) and Philadelphia sports, watching the sun set from his deck in Avalon, telling stories about the Jesuits, spending time with grandchildren, and, of course, enjoying a Manhattan or a cold beer in his favorite chair in the family room. Frank's smile and optimism will endure. Even during challenging times, ask him how he was doing, and invariably he would respond: "Never better!" Frank is survived by his children, Therese Keeley, Kathleen Bernardi (Philip), Marianne Stack, Elisabeth Keeley-Cain (Thomas), Christine Keeley, Francis X. Keeley, Jr. (Indrani), Eileen Keeley (Pat Millen), and Kevin Keeley (Amy Selco), grandchildren Michelle (fiancé Jason), Stephen (Alexandra), Christopher (Amanda), and Thomas (Katherine) Bernardi; Tom (Olivia), Hugo, and Ines Stack; Ryan (Rachel), Sean (Lacee), Erin, and Aidan Keeley-Cain; Caroline and Olivia Casey; Maya, Iona, and Sorcha Keeley; Paddy, Franny, and Sam Millen; Noah and Jonathan Keeley; and great-grandchildren, Xavier, William, Calvin, Bria, Luca, Ella, James, Madelyn, Lily, Cyrus, William, and Elizabeth. Frank is also survived by his two sisters-in-law, Margaret Mary Keeler and Kathleen Strott, and many treasured nieces and nephews. In addition to his wife Mimi, he is predeceased by his parents and stepmother Margaret E. Keeley, his son-in-law Andrew Stack, his brother George Keeley and his wife Lois, his brothers-in-law Louis Keeler, William Strott, and Vincent McDermott, Jr. and his wife Peggy. A Visitation will be held on Monday, November 3, 5 P.M. - 7 P.M., at the HEALEY FUNERAL HOME, 9 White Horse Pike, Haddon Heights, NJ, and again on Tuesday, November 4, at Christ the King Church, 200 Windsor Lane (at Wood Lane), Haddonfield, NJ, 10 A.M. - 10:45 A.M. The Funeral Mass will follow at 11 A.M. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the George A. and Margaret E. Keeley Scholarship at St. Joseph's Preparatory School, Office of Institutional Advancement, 1733 Girard Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19130, sjprep.org/support-the-prep#, or St. Joseph's University, University Advancement, 5600 City Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19131, wsju.edu/alumni/impact