His ministry spanned decades and continents, marked by courage, faith and unwavering commitment to serving others.

Born in Philadelphia in 1930, Father Falabella answered his calling to the priesthood directly after high school. He joined the Society of Jesus in 1948 and was ordained a priest in June 1961. He left the Jesuits in 1966 to volunteer as a U.S. Army chaplain, where he served with the 3rd Corps, 25th Infantry Division in Cui Chi, Vietnam. There, amid the chaos and violence, he offered solace, prayer and hope to young soldiers in need. 

His bravery shone brightest on Feb. 19, 1968, when he risked his life to save a wounded young lieutenant, Jim Marschewski, during a fierce firefight.

Nearly 50 years later, Marschewski reunited with Father Falabella to personally thank him for saving his life, calling the priest "an angel, sent by God."

"Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends" (Jn 15:13).

Like Marschewski, it took William “Bill” Quinn of Greenville over 50 years after the war to reunite with Father Falabella.

Quinn was a fellow Bobcat, the radio code name used for the 25th Infantry, 1st Battalion, 5th Mechanized Infantry.

“Father Robert connected me with Jim in June … since I had a nagging question about a fatality during a battle in Hoc Mon, Vietnam, that Jim finally helped me lay to rest,” Quinn explained.

On Oct. 15 he joined Marschewski in a visit with Father Robert, “in a meeting we will now forever cherish and value,” he said. “It was a pleasure meeting with Jim, his wife, Judy, and Father Robert to share our experiences.”

Their long-awaited reunion not only answered lingering questions but also strengthened bonds forged in the heat of battle, offering a powerful reminder of the lasting connections made during the Vietnam War.

After his tour in Vietnam (1967-1968), where he earned Silver and Bronze Stars, Father Falabella served at Fort Story, Virginia, ministering to grieving families who had lost loved ones in the war. It was an experience he described as one of the most challenging of his life. He was honorably discharged in September 1969.

A gifted writer, the priest chronicled his Vietnam experiences in his book Vietnam Memoirs: A Passage to Sorrow. Though he planned a second book reflecting on his time at Fort Story, other opportunities took precedence. He worked as an instructor at Lear Sigler Institute in Silver Springs, Maryland, teaching business math; was a supply priest at a parish in Margate, Florida; completed studies in speech pathology and audiology at Catholic University in Washington, D.C.; and then worked at the Internal Revenue Service as a program/analyst and computer specialist before resigning to care for his mother in 1982.

In 2003, Father Herbert Conner, SJ, a longtime friend, invited Father Falabella to continue his ministry as a priest-in-residence at St. Mary Magdalene Church. He celebrated private Masses, visited homebound parishioners and provided spiritual guidance to all who sought it.  

Known for his humility and deep faith, Father Falabella inspired countless individuals, both on and off the battlefield. His life was a testament to the power of love, courage and service to others.  

Father Falabella is survived by the many lives he touched. His memory will live on through the countless acts of kindness, bravery and faith that defined his life.

FUNERAL SERVICES

Visitation will be on Tuesday, Dec. 10, from 5:00-7:00 p.m. with Vespers at 6:30 p.m. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Dec. 12 at 10:00 a.m. Both will be held at St. Mary Magdalene, 2252 Woodruff Road in Simpsonville.