Obituary of Thomas F Rhile

Thomas F. “Tommy” Rhile, age 80, Pennsauken, NJ.

On August 6, 2025, shortly after a diagnosis of Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, Tommy Rhile died peacefully in his home surrounded by family.  He was 80 years old.  Tom is survived by his loving wife, Joanne (née Procacci) of Pennsauken, NJ, and daughters Lorraine Rhile Parker of Cherry Hill, NJ and Stefanie Ilagan (Enrico) of Pennsauken. 

He is also mourned by his sister, Lois Jenkins (Steve) of Goodyear, AZ; in-laws Lew Procacci (Kathy); Len Procacci (Peggy), and Diane Honan (Bill); as well as by his four granddaughters: Julia Parker of Port Orange, FL; Briana and Gabriella Parker of Cherry Hill, and Isabella Ilagan of Pennsauken; his honorary grandsons Franklin Tran of Camden, and Angelo DiTomaso of Haddonfield;12 nieces and nephews, and many other family members and friends.  Tom was predeceased by his parents, Miriam Brown Rhile and William Rhile of Pennsauken.

Tom loved sports, and was a fast runner.  He and his equally speedy sister Lois would race each other when they were children, and he laughed at how she would try to keep up with him, occasionally losing to her when he laughed too hard as she passed him.

He was an exceptional ball player and could play multiple positions.  He played Little League (PYAA) on the Black Sox, while his future brothers-in-law played for the Gold Sox.  He was once pitching a perfect game until his opponents scored at the very end.  On another occasion, he was running in reverse to catch a fly ball in center field, fell down backwards, and ended up catching the ball in his glove. 

He was a star in the Babe Ruth league and as a centerfielder for Pennsauken High School, where he graduated in 1963.  Decades later, while at the Pennsauken Country Club, his sister overheard a man exclaim “Tommy Rhile was the best ballplayer I ever saw!”  She laughed as she explained to him that Tommy was her brother.

Over the years, Tommy played softball with several teams, and his jersey was “always number 17.”  As a centerfielder with American Airlines, he played for 15 years and flew all over the country playing teams games in different cities.  He played for Lombardo’s, and then for teams sponsored by Di Salvio’s, D’Ambrosio’s, and Beverly AC, earning many trophies and awards throughout his playing career.

His biggest fan was his wife, Joanne, whom he met through his sister at Pennsauken High School.  Tommy was voted “Best Dancer,” in high school, and Joanne was thrilled that he invited her to his junior cotillion.  At the time, Joanne’s twin brother Len made sure to reassure their mother, “Tommy Rhile’s a nice guy.  You’re going to love him.”  And that she did.  Tommy was deeply respectful, and Joanne’s mother loved that, saying “When he came to our house, not once did he open my refrigerator!”  He was also very stylish and had great taste.  He was so fit that he wore his high school jackets throughout his entire life.

In fact, everyone in Joanne’s family loved him.  His brothers-in-law, Len and Lew, considered Tom their brother.  He called Joanne’s baby sister “Dee Babe.”  He endeared himself to Joanne’s grandmother from Italy when he would eat the eel that she prepared at the Feast of the Seven Fishes at Christmas.  He wasn’t Italian, but he loved Italian food. 

Joanne was the love of his life.  Whenever he introduced Joanne to people he would say “This is my bride.”  They married in 1968 at a beautiful wedding at St. Cecilia’s church in Pennsauken.  This September they would have been married 57 years.

Tom loved his family.  He had a good upbringing in which his parents instilled values of hard work, honesty, and kindness.  He was only 13 when his own father died, and he was told “Now you’re the man of the house.”

He took that responsibility seriously throughout his life, as he and Joanne raised two beautiful daughters, Lorraine and Stefanie, to whom Tom affectionally would call out, “Hey Pretty!”  He worked the overnight shift but was always available to help the girls with their homework.  Word problems in math were his specialty.  He would cut lilacs and peonies and bring them to Lorraine’s house.  He called Stefanie “Flip shot in the morning sunshine” when she would bound down the stairs to greet him.

When his daughters married and had their own children, Tommy fell in love all over again.  He carried pictures of all four of his granddaughters in his wallet.  He taught his right-handed granddaughter in kindergarten how to bat softball left-handed, a skill she would use throughout her softball career.  He would joyfully tell his granddaughters “I have clinks for you!”  which meant that he had coins and other money for their piggy banks.  He would review their homework with them to ensure they understood their assignments.  As they grew older, he loved to stay involved in their lives, meeting their friends and boyfriends, some of whom became very close with him.  In the last few months of his life, Tommy’s daughter Lorraine, a nurse, granddaughter Isabella and her boyfriend Franklin, both recent graduates of nursing school, cared for him every day, until the moment he took his last breath.

Tommy’s work ethic was second to none.  He was a faithful employee of American Airlines for 38 years, cleaning planes and handling baggage at Philadelphia International Airport.  Whenever he found an item that had been left behind by a passenger, he turned it in or mailed it back to the passenger himself.  He once paid to return a book to the Williamstown Library after a man left on the plane.  The man was so impressed, he wrote to American Airlines, which gave Tommy an American Airlines watch with airplanes for hands.  He earned many accolades and awards throughout his years at American.

He was a quiet guy and a man of great patience.  He loved cars and kept detailed notes on every car he owned.  He loved trivia, and puzzles, including the Courier-Post crossword.  He was a great neighbor and loved playing horseshoes with Ralph down the street.  He could fix anything.  He undertook many home improvement projects and often created his own scaffolding.  He loved spending time in his basement workshop, where he could tinker and listen to baseball games.  His favorite baseball team was the St. Louis Cardinals.  (His favorite football team was the Dallas Cowboys, which was one of the few sources of disagreement with the rest of the family!)  He raised orchids and cultivated a vegetable and herb garden.  He loved riddles and had a great sense of humor.  Whenever he met a fellow Capricorn, Tom would joke “Jesus Christ is a Capricorn, and it doesn’t get better than that!” 

A few weeks ago, when his doctors offered him the choice to undergo chemotherapy for the cancer they detected, Tommy said, “I’m 80 years old.  I’ve lived a good life and I can’t run the bases anymore.”  And while that may have been true here on earth, everyone who knew him knows that Tommy Rhile is suiting up in a number 17 jersey to play center field for Team Heaven now.

Relatives and friends are invited to the Visitation on Tuesday, August 12 from 7 to 9 PM and Wednesday, August 13 from 9:15 to 10:15 AM at the Falco/Caruso & Leonard Pennsauken Funeral Home, 6600 N. Browning Road.  Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 AM at the Church of Mary, Queen of All Saints, 4824 Camden Avenue in Pennsauken.  Interment will follow at Calvary Cemetery in Cherry Hill.