Edward Alleyne, pastor in Cherry Hill

Msgr. Edward D. Alleyne, 88, of Cherry Hill, who retired in 2003 after 10 years as pastor of the former Queen of Heaven Catholic Church there, died of congestive heart failure Thursday, Aug. 25, at St. Mary's Catholic Home in Cherry Hill.

Dr. Alleyne recalled his uncle as "a great guy."

"When he was around us, the collar would come off and he was our Uncle Sunny," the name given by the monsignor's mother, Dr. Alleyne said.

Michael J. Walsh, communications director for the Camden Diocese, said Msgr. Alleyne "was a very caring, faithful priest, who was always interested in the lives of those he served, and would never hesitate to help them in any way he could."

Msgr. Alleyne, Walsh said, "was a true inspiration and model for how one should live out their Catholic faith."

Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., Msgr. Alleyne studied at the Catholic University of America in Washington and Divine Savior Seminary in Lanham, Md., before he was ordained in June 1960 in Washington as a priest in the religious order the Society of the Divine Savior.

His first work was as a Latin teacher at the order's Mother of the Savior Seminary in Blackwood.

Then, after serving as associate pastor of Queen of the Apostles Church in Pennsville from 1967, he became a priest of the Camden Diocese in 1971.

Among his diocesan assignments, as noted in his resumé, he was associate pastor at three Camden parishes - the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, St. Bartholomew, and St. Anthony of Padua - and at two in Cherry Hill, St. Pius X and Queen of Heaven.

From 1984 to 1993, he was pastor of St. Monica Church in Atlantic City, and was given the rank of monsignor in 1991.

He held several diocesan responsibilities beyond his parishes.

Msgr. Alleyne was chairman of the Priest Personnel Board from 1978 to 1992.

He was a member of the Diocesan Priest Council from 1973 to 1981, the Diocesan Ecumenical Commission from 1973 to 1977, and the Commission for Social Justice from 1972 to 1980.

He was appointed to the Diocesan Board of Education in 1969. He became regional vocation coordinator and director of the Parkside Community Center, both in 1971, and regional moderator of the Camden diocesan PTA in 1972.

Msgr. Alleyne was named director of the Diocesan Office for Black Ministry in 1987, and was a member of the Presbyteral Council from 1990 to 1993, the Special Committee on Pastors in 1991, and the Campaign for Human Development from 1992 to 1996.

And for several years, he was a member of the Diocesan Marriage Tribunal.

Besides his nephew, Msgr. Alleyne is survived by another nephew, three nieces, and two great-nephews.

A viewing was set from 10 to 11:15 a.m. Friday, Sept. 2, at Holy Eucharist Church, 344 Kresson Rd., Cherry Hill, before an 11:30 a.m. Funeral Mass there, with interment in Calvary Cemetery in Cherry Hill.

Donations may be sent to the Retirement Fund for Religious, Diocese of Camden, 631 Market St., Camden, N.J. 08102.

Condolences may be offered to the family at schetterfh.com.

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