The Reverend John Michael DiLeo, 68, passed away from pancreatic cancer, on Wednesday, August 23, 2023, at the Macon Valley Rehabilitation and Nursing Center. Macon Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.

Born on March 9, 1955, to Joseph and Emily DiLeo in Port Chester, New York, John married Lucinda Palmer in Tampa, Florida on January 3, 1981. They bought property in Franklin in 2006 and moved here permanently when John retired in 2021.

John graduated from Duke University in 1977 with a degree in Religion, from the University of Florida in 1980 with a Master and Specialist degree in Education, and in 1986, he earned his Master in Divinity (M.Div) from the Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria. Upon ordination to the Episcopal priesthood, John served as an Assistant Rector at St. John's Church, Tampa, FL where he coordinated the youth ministry and coached a basketball team. Later, he was called to St. Joseph's Church in Gainesville, FL where he served as Rector for 15 years.

After retiring from St. Joseph's Episcopal Church, John joined the staff at North Florida Regional Hospital as a chaplain. "During Chaplain John's twelve years with us at NFH," comments a current hospital chaplain, "he helped thousands of patients and their loved ones as they faced critical illness. He helped them navigate the hospital arena, and regardless of one's culture or faith, he helped them utilize their strengths and resources of faith. He provided the best listening ear that I ever knew anyone to have. And in that act of being so attentively heard, patients and family members were able to arrive at their best deliberated responses to medically challenging dilemmas. And for so many, he faithfully accompanied them as they approached the shadow of death. As John went about his work with patients, we as staff, physicians and administrators were blessed to work alongside him, consistently the recipients ourselves of his compassion and wisdom."

A former parishioner at St. Joseph's wrote, "John meant so very much to our family. We still discuss his insights on everything from the Resurrection to conflict resolution. He was there for the confirmation of both our sons and he performed the marriage ceremony uniting our son and his wife. He was a dear friend and confidante to my husband who worked at the hospital. He sat and prayed with me through his heart surgery and got information, when the procedure stretched on several hours. He was a fine man and a compassionate priest."

One of his fraternity brothers at Duke University wrote, "Almost everyone has a story of a soulful conversation with John which, whatever the topic, seemed to somehow touch on the meaning of life. He may have started his time at Duke as a Pre-Med, but John always seemed destined for something different. Something bigger."

John is survived by his wife Lucy of 43 years and his son, Joseph (Amanda) of Charlotte, NC. He also is survived by two sisters, Maryann (Gregg) Laguardia of Port Chester, NY and Joanne Rathbun of Oxford, CT; nieces, Emily and Joelle Laguardia, of Port Chester, NY; nephew, Robert (Alexis) Rathbun, of Oxford, CT; and cousin, Linda (Peter) Christiansen of Greenwich, CT.

A Celebration of Life service will be held Saturday, September 16, 2023, at 10:30 am at All Saints Episcopal Church, the St. Agnes Chapel (66 Church Street). Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to All Saints Episcopal Church (84 Church Street, Franklin, NC 28734). A private interment at the parish cemetery at St. James Episcopal Church, Monkton, MD, will be held later.

Following the service, a reception will be held in the St. Agnes Parish Hall.

The family wishes to thank the staff at Macon Valley Rehabilitation and Nursing Center for their compassionate care over the past three months.

Online condolences can be made at www.maconfuneralhome.com.

Macon Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.