Obituaries
Obituary for Richard J. Dillon, M.I.
PEORIA – Richard J. Dillon, M.I., age 83, of Peoria passed away at 9:23 AM, Friday, December 14, 2018 at OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria, IL.
Richard was born on April 12, 1935, in Chicago to Sam and Bernice (Tulecki) Dillon. He is survived by his daughter, Deborah Dillon of Chicago and his son, Daniel Dillon of Peoria.
Richard was raised in Chicago by his mother, who reared him mostly on her own. God rest her soul!
In his final semester of high school, he got the wonderful opportunity to attend Loyola University on a one-year scholarship that another student did not want. During his sophomore year, he withdrew from school and entered the Air Force to obtain the GI Bill. Eventually, he returned to Loyola University and graduated with a degree in Business Administration. He attended Bradley University as a graduate student at large, where he only audited one class a semester.
Air Force quota needs made it possible for Richard to study language. He first studied Korean. Then, in later years, he got the chance to study Mandarin Chinese at Yale University. Years later, he studied French.
He discovered poetry during critical times in his life, and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s poe, “A Psalm of Life” left a great impression on him. His favorite poetry book was 101 Famous Poems, edited by Mr. Roy J. Cook. He joined the Peoria Poetry Club in 1998. For several years, he was constantly writing verse, but later found he only composed verse on rare occasions.
After his wife passed away (May she rest in peace), his son invited Richard to live with him. His son later got a management position in Peoria, and Richard moved with him.
He joined the Militia of the Immaculata (M.I.) in 2004.
He was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church.
A Funeral Mass will be at 10:00 AM, Wednesday, December 19, 2018 at Holy Family Catholic Church, with a half hour prior visitation. Franciscan Friars will officiate and burial will follow at Resurrection Cemetery.
Memorials, in Richard’s memory, may be made to Holy Family Catholic Church.
Tributes and condolences may be submitted to www.wrightandsalmon.com.
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Richard was born on April 12, 1935, in Chicago to Sam and Bernice (Tulecki) Dillon. He is survived by his daughter, Deborah Dillon of Chicago and his son, Daniel Dillon of Peoria.
Richard was raised in Chicago by his mother, who reared him mostly on her own. God rest her soul!
In his final semester of high school, he got the wonderful opportunity to attend Loyola University on a one-year scholarship that another student did not want. During his sophomore year, he withdrew from school and entered the Air Force to obtain the GI Bill. Eventually, he returned to Loyola University and graduated with a degree in Business Administration. He attended Bradley University as a graduate student at large, where he only audited one class a semester.
Air Force quota needs made it possible for Richard to study language. He first studied Korean. Then, in later years, he got the chance to study Mandarin Chinese at Yale University. Years later, he studied French.
He discovered poetry during critical times in his life, and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s poe, “A Psalm of Life” left a great impression on him. His favorite poetry book was 101 Famous Poems, edited by Mr. Roy J. Cook. He joined the Peoria Poetry Club in 1998. For several years, he was constantly writing verse, but later found he only composed verse on rare occasions.
After his wife passed away (May she rest in peace), his son invited Richard to live with him. His son later got a management position in Peoria, and Richard moved with him.
He joined the Militia of the Immaculata (M.I.) in 2004.
He was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church.
A Funeral Mass will be at 10:00 AM, Wednesday, December 19, 2018 at Holy Family Catholic Church, with a half hour prior visitation. Franciscan Friars will officiate and burial will follow at Resurrection Cemetery.
Memorials, in Richard’s memory, may be made to Holy Family Catholic Church.
Tributes and condolences may be submitted to www.wrightandsalmon.com.
Previous Events
Visitation
Wednesday
19
Dec
9:30 AM
- 10:00 AM
Holy Family Catholic Church
3720 N Sterling Ave
Peoria, IL 61615
Funeral Mass
Wednesday
19
Dec
10:00 AM
Holy Family Catholic Church
3720 N Sterling Ave
Peoria, IL 61615
Cemetery Details
Location
Resurrection Cemetery & Mausoleum
7519 N Allen Rd
Peoria, IL 61614
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