Obituaries

Former Pastor at St. Anne in Barrington, Fr. Arthur Dillon, Dies

Chicago, IL (March 3, 2004) - A Chicago native and priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago for nearly 60 years, Fr. Arthur John Dillon, died Tuesday, March 2, at St. Benedict Home in Niles, where he had been a resident for the last three years. He was 84 years old. Fr. Dillon suffered from congestive heart failure and was in declining health. He was pastor emeritus of St. Anne Parish in Barrington since he retired in 1989.

Fr. Dillon grew up on the city’s southwest side and attended Our Lady of Good Counsel elementary school. He was a graduate of Quigley Preparatory Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake in Mundelein.
Ordained in 1945, Fr. Dillon spent his first five years as a priest on Chicago’s north side at St. Ita Parish. He served as an assistant pastor at St. Sebastian for four years, a parish now closed, and for ten years at Queen of Apostles Parish in the south suburbs.

From 1964 to 1971, Fr. Dillon served the parishioners of St. Bride Parish. In 1971, he was made pastor of St. Anne Parish in Barrington and remained there until his retirement in 1989.

During the time he was pastor of St. Anne, the parish doubled in size, and, according to St. Anne’s current pastor, Fr. John Dewes, the parish has doubled in size since Fr. Dillon’s retirement. Fr. Dewes described Fr. Dillon as a quiet, gentle and thoughtful man who was faithful in his ministry.
Visitation for Fr. Dillon will take place at St. Anne Church, 120 N. Ela St., Barrington, on Thursday, March 4, from 3 to 9 p.m. Retired bishop Timothy Lyne will be the main celebrant at a funeral Mass for Fr. Dillon on Friday, March 5, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Anne Church. Interment will be at Mt. Carmel Cemetery in Hillside.