Sad death of John Dillon
Wexfordman John Dillon who died last week was a devoted family man who will be remembered for his kindness and hospitality towards relatives, friends and neighbours.
John of Belvedere Grove died at his home on Sunday, January 22, surrounded by his family, following a courageous battle with cancer which was diagnosed last April. He was 58 years old.
A son of the late John and Vera Dillon, John grew up in Ferrybank and in 1978, he married his childhood sweetheart Jacinta (Jess) (nee Robinson) when she was 17 years old and he was 19. The couple were inseparable throughout their married life together.
They lived for a time in Spawell Road before moving to Belvedere Grove where they reared their two daughters Karen and Jamie. Later they proudly welcomed three grandchildren Ella (10), Jack (8) and Mia (8).
John was at his happiest when he was in Belvedere Grove in the company of his family and friends. He opened his home to his sons-in-law James and Phelim and treated them like they were his own sons. They, in turn, were very fond of him.
John and Jess had such a good relationship with their daughters and sons-in-law that they often went on holiday together, including Lanzarotte for many years. In fact, the parents went on honeymoon to Thailand with Karen and Phelim.
However, no matter where he went on holiday, John’s favourite place was home. He loved to cook and was a handy chef in the kitchen, always searching for new recipes to impress his family. He enjoyed baking with his grandchildren.
John loved visitors and was always delighted when someone called. Such was the excellent standard of his hospitality that his house was known jokingly as the ‘Belvedere triangle’ because callers got lost there for hours, enjoying food and listening to music.
He had a great love of music and his tastes were eclectic, as indicated by the choice of music his family chose to have played at his funeral Mass in Clonard Church including Bob Marley, Jim Croche, Tom Waits, James Taylor and Freddie White. Before he embarked on a car journey, John always made sure to sort out the music in advance.
Young at heart, he was a very popular uncle who was loved by all his nieces and nephews. When they came home from college, John was the first person they would visit. He was especially close to his nephews John Fleming and Timothy Dillon.
John was employed in ABS Pumps for many years and in recent years he worked with the St. Vincent de Paul Society in Wexford, a job he loved because it brought him into daily contact with people. He loved chatting to people and accepted them for who they were, making everyone he spoke to feel important.
The common theme running through the tributes and messages of sympathy received by his family following his death was that he was a true gentleman who always had a smile on his face.
John sadly lost his 10-month battle with cancer. He smiled through those months and never complained. He took everything in his stride as he did his whole life.At the funeral Mass, his grandchildren recited the Prayers of the Faithful while his daughter Karen delivered an emotional eulogy.The Bob Marley song ‘ Three Little Birds’ with the refrain ‘Baby, don’t worry about a thing’ was played as his coffin was carried from the church. John could not speak highly enough of the care he received in the oncology unit of Wexford General Hospital and from the Wexford Hospice Homecare team at home.