Father Michael McDermott, a retired priest of the Diocese of Wilmington, died Jan. 21. He was 65.
Father McDermott was born in Wilmington to Miles and Marguerite McDermott. He attended St. Paul School before beginning studies for the priesthood at St. Mary’s High School in St. Mary’s, Ky. He continued his education at St. Bonaventure University and its seminary in western New York before completing seminary studies at Christ the King Seminary in East Aurora, N.Y. He was ordained to the priesthood on May 3, 1975, at Church of the Holy Child in Brandywine Hundred.
He served as associate pastor at Our Lady of Fatima and Holy Spirit, New Castle; St. John the Apostle, Milford; and St. John the Beloved and St. Mary Magdalen, Wilmington. Father McDermott was appointed pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish in Elkton, Md., in 1990 but resigned two years later for health reasons. After that he served as a chaplain at the Wilmington Medical Center with additional ministry at St. Mary of the Assumption, Hockessin.
He is survived by his brother and sister-in-law, Miles and Peg, of Woodstock, Md.; a sister-in-law, Kate McDermott-Mahon, of Jones Point, N.Y.; and nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be at Corpus Christi Church, 903 New Road, Elsmere. Viewings will be held Thursday, Jan. 23, from 5-7 p.m. and again Friday, Jan. 24, from 9:30-10:30. The Mass of Christian Burial will be said at 11 a.m. Burial will be at All Saints Cemetery.
Contributions in his memory may be made to the American Lung Association, 630 Churchmans Road No. 202, Newark, DE 19702, or the American Cancer Society, 92 Reads Way, New Castle, DE 19720.
