Funeral services will be held April 6 in Our Lady of the Angels Parish-St. Joachim Church, 21-23 Bayard Street, Trenton, for Father Philip Theodore Matera who died April 2 in St. Lawrence Rehabilitation Center, Lawrenceville.

Rite of Reception of the Body will begin at 9:30 a.m. with a viewing following until 10:45 a.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. by Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M.

Father Matera was born July 10, 1925, in Trenton. He studied at the Pallotine Seminary in New York, the Gregorian University in Rome, Italy, and continued his preparation for the priesthood in St. Mary Seminary and University, Baltimore, from 1949-1951. He was ordained priest May 19, 1951,by Bishop George W. Ahr in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton.

As parochial vicar, Father Matera served in Holy Trinity Parish, Long Branch; St. Philip and St. James Parish, Phillipsburg; St. Cecelia Parish, Iselin; Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish; St. Ann Parish, Raritan; St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Red Bank; St. Mary of Mount Virgin Parish, New Brunswick, and St. Joseph Parish, North Plainfield; St. Mary Parish, Alpha, and St. Benedict Parish, Holmdel, where he also served as temporary administrator.

Father Matera was installed as the first resident pastor of St.  John Parish, Lakehurst, in 1969 and remained there until 1982 when he was named the pastor of Assumption Parish, New Egypt, where he served for three years.

Following his assignment in New Egypt, Father Matera took a brief leave from the diocese. Upon his return to the diocese, Father Matera then spent 10 months as temporary administrator in St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Whiting, and then as parochial vicar in Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish, West Trenton.

Father Matera’s final parish assignment was as parochial vicar in St. Pius X Parish, Forked River.

Other positions he held included serving as chaplain of St. Michael’s Home for Children, Hopewell, a now-closed orphanage operated by the diocese, and later as chaplain of Morris Hall, Lawrenceville.

He officially retired from active ministry Oct. 1, 1988.

Father Matera was the son of the late Theodore and Angelina DeAngelo Matera and brother of the late Alfred and Anthony Matera and Antoinette Peluso. He is survived by a brother and sister-in-law, Jerry and Faye Matera of Florida; a niece, Roseann Peluso; a nephew Anthony (Karla) Peluso, and many other nieces, nephews and cousins.

Memorial donations may be made to Our Lady of the Angels Parish, 19 Bayard St., Trenton, N.J. 08611.