Victor James Pilewski, 83, of Oil City, passed away on Wednesday, May 10, 2017, at Oakwood Heights with his family by his side.

He was born in Oil City, on May 15th, 1933, the youngest of six sons of John Pilewski and Thecla Huefner Pilewski.

In 1951, he graduated from St. Joseph High School, having been taught by the Benedictine Sisters.

During high school, he worked at the Oil City Variety Store, Sam Magdovitz Beverage Company, and part-time gravedigger at Calvary Cemetery.

Following high school, he attended two years at St. Mark Seminary followed by two years at Gannon College, both located in Erie, PA. In 1953, he entered Our Lady of River Ridge Seminary in Franklin, PA.

In 1956, he entered the Missionaries of Africa (White Fathers) Novitiate in Alexandria Bay, NY and was assigned to Theological Studies in Tunisia, North Africa and later transferred to East View Ontario, Canada.

In 1960, he was ordained to the priesthood at his home parish of St. Joseph Catholic Church, Oil City. During his vocation as a White Father of Africa missionary, he served in many locations including Our Lady of River Ridge, Franklin, PA; Washington D.C.; Uganda, Africa; and Onchiota, NY. As a White Father, he served as Assistant Provincial Treasurer, Manager of Investments, and Director of Provincial Finances & Real Estate, which required numerous visits to Rome. After leaving the priesthood, he continued to work with the White Fathers in Plainfield, NJ.

Upon returning to the Oil City area, he assumed directorship of Goodwill Industries for several years. For 15 years, Vic served as Directory of Dietary services at the Oil City Hospital until his retirement.

He continued to keep active as a courier for U.S. Cargo and a crossing guard for the Oil City School District.

He was a member of the Hospital Council of Northwest Pennsylvania, 4th-degree member of Knights of Columbus, a lifetime member of Pulaski Club, and a member of the Izaak Walton League.

Vic was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 37 years, Mary (Kleck) Pilewski in June 2014; and his five brothers: Francis, Bernard, Paul, Edward, and John Pilewski. He is survived by one son, Victor John Pilewski, M.D., and his girlfriend, Lainey Mattox, of West Liberty, KY; and five step-children: Joe Schwab and wife, Linda, of Oil City; Rachael Myers and husband, Joe, of Granger, IN; Liz Brewer and husband, Dan, of Erie, PA; Marj Kalamajka and husband, Jerry, of Oil City; and Doug Schwab and wife, Cindy, of Gibsonia, PA. He is also survived by his seventeen grandchildren: Emily, Taylor, and Hillary Schwab; Erin (David) Fifer, Sean, Sarah, and Kathryn Myers; Danielle Vascovich, Ashley (Samantha) Brewer, Meagan (Isaac) White, John and Robynn Milewski, and Ethan Brewer; Ryan and Sadie Kalamajka; and Katrina and Lauren Schwab, as well as three great-grandchildren: Connor Vascovich, Lettie Wisniewski, and Liam Fifer.

Vic loved to travel and was fluent in several languages, He had many interests including poker, travel, deer and bear hunting, outdoor work, garage sales, cooking meat (especially a good filet mignon), following the stock market, and his afternoon Manhattan. His fondest times were spent with his kids and grandkids. He was a daily communicant for many years. He was a loving and dedicated husband to his wife, visiting her every day for five years at Oakwood Heights during her final years battling Parkinson’s disease. He was a great father and provider to all of his kids and will be greatly missed.

Visitations will be held from 3 to 6 p.m. Sunday at the Reinsel Funeral Home and Crematory, 116 Bissell Ave, Oil City.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, May 15th at 10:00 a.m. in St. Stephen Church, 21 State Street, Oil City with Fr. John Miller III officiating.

Memorials can be made to St. Stephen Church, Second Century Fund, 210 Reed Street, Oil City; or Oakwood Heights, 10 Vo-Tech Drive, Oil City.

Online condolences can be made at https://www.reinselfuneralhome.com