Obituary of Jerome E. Diffley

Diffley, Rev. Jerome E., 82, of St. Petersburg died Friday January 4, 2002 at Bons Secour Maria Manor. Born in Birmingham, Alabama, he moved to St. Petersburg in 1969. Rev. Diffley entered the seminary in 1936 as a senior in high school. After finishing junior college, he entered the Novitiate of the Benedictine Abbey. He graduated from St. Benedictine?s College in Atchison, Kansas in 1942 and began teaching high school while studying theology and other priestly studies until his ordination into the Benedictine Order on May 10, 1945. He was a high school teacher and prefect until 1951 when, as his first assignment, he came pastor of St. Margaret?s Parish in Foley, Alabama. In 1952 he returned to the Abbey to teach and continue prefecting. While working at St. Bernard?s High School and College over many years, Father Diffley held such administrative posts as: Dean of Students, Dean of Studies, and Director of Development. During this time he served mission churches in the Diocese of Mobile, Diocese of Birmingham, and Diocese of Knoxville. He also served in mission areas of Mississippi, in the Diocese of Jackson, and other parishes in Atlanta and Memphis. Father left St. Bernard in 1955 to continue studies at Notre Dame University until 1959 when he returned to teach at St. Bernard?s with a Masters Degree and a Doctorate in Education. From 1959 to 1959 he remained at the Abbey and College filling administrative positions and teaching until 1969 when he came to the Diocese of St. Petersburg to work in the Office of Education of the Chancery and live at the Holy Family rectory. Incardinated as a Diocesan priest in 1974, Father Diffley became Administrator of Holy Family in December of 1971, while continuing his work at the Chancery until 1979. From 1979 until January 1992, he served as full-time pastor of Holy Family Parish, ministering to the pastoral and spiritual needs of a rapidly growing parish. During that period of time, the present school library and ?all purpose room? were added to the school, a new church was planned and built from 1982 to 1984, and dedication took place on October 7, 1984. The church was completely paid for in May 1992 and an Education Fund was initiated to help with the support of the school. Father Diffley retired January 15, 1992 but remained in residence at Holy Family as Pastor Emeritus and active in ministry as needed in the parish. Vigil Services will be held on Sunday January 6, 2002 at 7pm at Holy Family Catholic Church, 200 ? 78th Avenue NE, St. Petersburg, where the Funeral Mass will be celebrated by Bishop Robert Lynch at 11am on Monday January 7, 2002. Burial will follow at Calvary Catholic Cemetery. Memorial Donations are requested to be made to the Holy Family Grade School Endowment Fund. Anderson-McQueen Funeral Homes ? McLeod Chapel in charge of arrangements.