Rev. James E. Locke

Reverend James E. Locke, Pastor Emeritus, Saint Cornelius Parish, Chadds Ford, PA died on Sunday, August 23, 2026.

Father Locke was born on November 22, 1930, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is the son of the late John Allen Locke and the late Lenore Walrath. Father Locke attended Saint Martin, Saint Joachim and Saint Bartholomew Parochial Schools, Philadelphia, Saint Joseph College High School and Villanova University before entering Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary.

Father Locke was ordained on May 13, 1961, at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, Philadelphia by Most Reverend John J Krol. Father Locke served as Parochial Vicar, Saint Ignatius of Loyola Parish, Philadelphia; Saint Joan of Arc Parish, Philadelphia; Our Lady of Victory Parish, Philadelphia, and Saint Malachy Parish, Philadelphia. He served as Pastor, Saint Ignatius of Loyola Parish, Philadelphia; Holy Cross Parish, Philadelphia; and in 1993 he was appointed Pastor, Saint Cornelius Parish, Chadds Ford, and was named Pastor Emeritus in July 2004.

Father Locke was the loving brother of the late Anne "Babsie" Locke Bansbach, Lenore Locke Breen, Allyn “Sunny” Locke Reilly and John Allen Locke, Jr. Loving uncle to Nancy Casey (Bansbach), Carole Miller (Bansbach), Barbara Mandel (Bansbach), Ronnie Coyne (Bansbach), Leo Bansbach, Mary Bibb (Bansbach), Lenore Virzi (Bansbach) and Lisa Alesna (Bansbach); John N. Breen Jr., Lenore L. Hak (Breen), Virginia A. Breen, Barbara A. Hashmi (Breen), James F. Breen, Patrisha Kasten (Breen), Donald J. Breen; Joseph Garrett Reilly, John Allen Reilly, James Reilly, Patrick Reilly (deceased), Lenore Martinez (Reilly), Gerald Reilly, Mary Catherine Desrosiers (Reilly), Jeannine Reilly; Helen M. Burke (Locke), Mary E. Cavallaro (Locke), Susan A. Beyer (Locke), John Allen Locke, III and Anne L. Ananko (Locke). Loving grand uncle of 67. Also survived by his sister-in-law Helen M. Locke (Late John Allen Locke, Jr.)

First Service:

Relatives and friends are invited on Friday August 28th – Viewing from 10 to 10:45 AM with Funeral Mass at 11:00 AM at St. Frances of Cabrini Church, 114 Atlantic Ave., Ocean City, NJ 08226.

Second Service:

The Reception of the Body will be held at Saint Cornelius Church, 160 Ridge Rd. Chadds Ford, PA 19317, on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, at 9:00 AM followed by a viewing from 9:30 to 10:45 AM. Most Reverend Edward Deliman will celebrate the Funeral Mass at 11:00 AM. Concelebrants are: Reverend Monsignor David E. Diamond, Reverend Monsignor Richard Bolger, and Reverend Joseph Quindlen will be the homilist.

Interment will follow in Holy Cross Cemetery, Yeadon, PA.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Joseph's Preparatory School or to Knights of Columbus; Father Thomas F. Blake Council #2650 Ocean City, NJ.