Father Shellem was pastor at St. Anastasia from 1988 to 2001. Previously, he had been a pastor at St. Madeleine Sophie Church in Philadelphia and he assisted pastors at other churches in the area for many years.

From 1958 to 1963, Father Shellem taught religion and was assistant librarian at Cardinal Dougherty High School in Philadelphia and then was librarian for four years at Cardinal O'Hara High School in Springfield, Delaware County.

From 1967 to 1978, he was director of libraries at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood. When he arrived, the collection was in disarray, said his niece Lorena Boylan. Father Shellem, who had a master's degree in library science from Villanova University, cataloged books and archived artifacts. He applied for grants to organize material in the American Catholic Historical Society's archives, which were housed at the seminary. He created a gallery for the seminary's art, and acquired works by contemporary artists.

The seminary's collection included valuable paintings by Thomas Eakins that had been stored in obscure places, his niece said. Eakins, an agnostic, enjoyed speaking Latin with the priests at the seminary and painted many of their portraits. In 1970, Father Shellem organized an exhibit of Eakins' paintings at the seminary.

Father Shellem grew up in South Philadelphia and Germantown and attended La Salle College High School before entering St. Charles Borromeo Seminary.

After his ordination in 1952, he was assigned to Mary Queen of Peace in Pottsville. When a local mine caved in, he was lowered on a rope to give last rites to trapped miners, who were later rescued.

His nephew Eugene Filosa said Father Shellem shared memories from his early priesthood; from growing up with four sisters and a widowed mother during the Depression; and from his years in the seminary.

Father Shellem often traveled abroad with his seminary classmates. He loved spending time at his family's home on Long Beach Island, N.J., where he kept his collection of blue willow china. He enjoyed antiquing with his sister, Ann Shellem. She died last year. Father Shellem is survived by nieces and nephews.

A Funeral Mass will be said at noon Monday at St. Anastasia Church, 3301 West Chester Pike, Newtown Square. Friends may call at 9:30 a.m. Burial will be in Holy Cross Cemetery, Yeadon.