Bro. Benedict Mary Ober, O.S.B. – RIP

Bro. Benedict Mary OSB

Mass of Christian Burial

Thomas Martin Ober was born on November 11, 1959, in Grand Island, New York, to Aloysius and Annette (Walter) Ober. Thomas, his sister Lisa, and his parents would eventually settle in Voorhees, New Jersey. His father was a service station owner, and his mother was a secretary. Thomas attended grade school and middle school in the Voorhees School system and graduated from Eastern High School in 1977. Following graduation he enlisted in the United States Navy, proudly serving as part of the Construction Battalion – the Seabees – aboard the aircraft carrier the U.S.S. Independence. After four years of active duty, Thomas returned to his familiar New Jersey area. Here he worked as a movie theater manager and sold insurance.

Thomas was also active in his local parish. An area of his faith to which he felt strongly committed was the pro-life movement. He actively promoted and participated in this effort. Like Saint Augustine before him, Thomas was restless for something more. His search eventually took him to Des Moines, Iowa in 1994 where he entered the Society of Saint John at the Basilica. He made his first profession of vows in 2005, taking for his monastic name Benedict Mary. His final vows as a monk were made in 2009. The Society of Saint John community at the Basilica in Des Moines eventually became Saint Gabriel Priory under the auspices of Mount Michael Abbey. When the Priory closed, Bro. Benedict Mary transferred to the Mount Michael community.

Bro. Benedict Mary was assigned to the Mount Michael advancement office, serving on behalf of the Abbey and School. His ebullient personality and his New Jersey spirit endeared him to many on campus and to our extended community. Bro. Benedict Mary enjoyed the opportunity to share Mount Michael with all whom he encountered. He also delighted in the Philadelphia professional sports’ teams and shared their ups and downs with all who would listen.

Prior to his final vows Bro. Benedict Mary began to manifest a few health concerns. He was eventually diagnosed with a rare disease that required occasional treatment and which would slowly debilitate him. Bro. Benedict Mary did not complain nor let his health slow him down. Eventually he used an electric mobility chair to provide him with transportation. His community members would be alarmed on cold, winter mornings when Bro. Benedict Mary would be found stuck in the snow on his chair, making his way to community prayer.

With the Abbot and the community’s blessings, Bro. Benedict Mary opted to move back home in 2020 to be closer to his family due to his health. On Saturday, September 9, Bro. Benedict died in his residence. He is survived by the community of Mount Michael Benedictine Abbey as well as his sister Lisa Giorno and his brother-in-law Joseph, his aunt Geraldine Miller, a niece Victoria (John, Jr.) Petrongolo as well as great nephews John Petrongolo, III and Theodore Petrongolo. Preceding him in death were his parents Aloysius and Annette (Walter) Ober and his uncle John Ober. A Mass of Christian Burial will be Saturday, September 30 at 10:30 am in the David “D.J.” Sokol Memorial Chapel on the Mount Michael campus followed by inurnment in the Mount Michael Abbey Cemetery. Memorials to Mount Michael Benedictine Abbey. Arrangements provided by Reichmuth Funeral Home.