Rev. Msgr. Thomas H. Villerot
Deceased: 2016-12-05
Diocese: DETROIT
CSM Graduation Year: 1943
After a 73-year ministry, one thing is for certain: Msgr. Thomas Villerot loved being a priest. Whether it was serving as a parish pastor, picking the minds of seminarian interns or blessing people at Marywood Nursing Care Center, Msgr. Villerot never stopped in his role in serving Christ’s church.
Msgr. Villerot died Dec. 5. At the age of 99, he was the oldest living priest in the Archdiocese of Detroit.
“Clear and away, what he loved most about life was being a priest,” said Fr. Tim Babcock, associate director of international priests for the Archdiocese of Detroit who’s known Msgr. Villerot for more than 50 years.
“He was a ‘priest’s priest’,” Fr. Babcock said. “The hardest thing for him was to stop celebrating Mass. Even at the nursing home, he loved saying Mass, hearing confessions, blessing and anointing people.”
Thomas Villerot was born in Detroit on July 1, 1917, to Henry and Mary (O’Brien) Villerot. He was predeceased by his brothers, Fr. Henry and Ernest; and sisters, Sr. Mary Frances Xavier Villerot, RSM, Kathleen Lama and Anne. He is survived by his brother, Joseph; and his sister, Sr. Mary Theresa Villerot, RSM and Barbara Gardner.
Msgr. Villerot was ordained May 29, 1943, at Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit by Cardinal Edward A. Mooney.
Msgr. Villerot served as an associate pastor at St. Joseph Parish in Erie (1943-47); St. Catherine (1947-52) and St. Lawrence (1952) in Detroit; and St. Mary in Royal Oak (1952-57). Msgr. Villerot taught at Sacred Heart Seminary High School from 1957-65, before receiving his first pastorship at St. Martin of Tours Parish in Detroit in 1965.
Msgr. Villerot then named pastor of St. Jude Parish in Detroit from 1970-79 and then was transferred to St. Valerie of Ravenna Parish in Clinton Township 1979-87.
