Rev. Thomas V. Perunilam

Rev. Thomas V. Perunilam, of Somerville, passed away Thursday, July 26, 2018, at Raritan Bay Medical Center in Perth Amboy. He was 80.
Born in Aruvithura, Kerala, India, he studied for the Priesthood at the Papal Seminary, Poona, India, and St. Joseph Seminary in Alwaye, Kerala, India. He also attained a B.A. and M.A. in English Literature (University of Kerala) and an Ed.D (Rutgers University)

Father Tom was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Palai, Kerala, India on March 11, 1964. He came to the United States in 1973 and served as a parochial vicar in the following parishes in the Diocese of Metuchen: Corpus Christi, South River, Immaculate Conception, Somerville, and St. Gregory the Great in Hamilton.

He was named pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Milltown, in 1985, where he served until his retirement 2006.

In addition to being pastor, he served on the diocesan Presbyteral Council and the Board of Seminary Education and as a delegate to the First Synod of the Diocese of Metuchen.

Father Tom loved gardening, traveling, playing and watching basketball. He especially enjoyed going out to dinner with friends and loved his time with his loyal companion Sir Winston.

Surviving is his nephew Father Dominic Perunilam of Austin, TX; his extended family Ralph and Marianne Tellone of Somerville (with whom he resided), and their children Courtney and Justin, and his wife Kimberly, and Lee Matthews of Monmouth Junction; his several nieces and nephews in India; and his many dear friends.

Father Tom's body will be received at St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, 508 Elizabeth Avenue, Somerset on Monday, July 30th at 4:00 pm. He will lie in state on Monday from 4:00 – 7:15 pm. A Mass of Commemoration will be offered at St. Thomas, 7:30 pm, with Bishop Jacob Angadiath as Principal Celebrant, along with Father Dominic Perunilam.
On Tuesday, July 31st, a Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11:00 am, at St. Joseph's Parish, 34 Yorktown Road, Hillsborough, With Bishop James F. Checchio, Bishop of the Metuchen Diocese, as Principal Celebrant. Interment will follow at Resurrection Cemetery in Piscataway.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Father Tom's name to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation at www.pulmonaryfibrosis.org. Arrangements are by The Crabiel Home for Funerals, 170 N Main St.-at Riva Avenue, Milltown. You may send condolences for the family at the obituary "guestbook" at www.crabiel.com