John Luca Obituary, Death – A sudden death occurred earlier today in the home of Fr. John de Luca, who had been a priest in the Archdiocese of Sydney for the previous 56 years. The cause of death was not immediately known. He was well into his eightieth decade of life. This past Friday, I had the privilege of eating supper with him in his home in Little Bay, which not only has a grand piano but also a harpsichord and a pipe organ – yes, a pipe organ.
I was blown away by all of the musical instruments in his home. John entertained me by performing a few tunes on the homemade organ that he had fashioned himself while I was cooking the pasta. It’s possible that this will be the very last organ performance ever recorded of John (with the help of a few friends.)
Fr. John was an accomplished pianist who had attended the Sydney Conservatorium and had a degree in music from there. During the course of his professional life, he was an integral part of the musical leadership teams at both St. Patrick’s Seminary and the Cathedral, serving as an assistant conductor of the choir and the orchestra. He had served as the Parish Priest of Revesby and Maroubra Bay for many years prior to his retirement in 2007 when he took on fewer responsibilities after retiring.
For the past seven years, he has been a member of the Management Committee of the Clerical Fund of the Archdiocese of Sydney, and I am currently acting as the Chairman of this organization. John, who had a significant interest in the stock market, was crucial in ensuring that our group remained focused on attaining the best beneficial medical results for the clergy in Sydney.
He was also instrumental in ensuring that our group had a strong interest in the stock market. Regarding the Funeral Mass, we will keep you updated as soon as we have any new information to share with you. I would want to ask you to join me in praying that the Lord would grant Father John eternal rest after his passing.
I pray that he is at peace for all eternity. You deserve this commendation since you have been an excellent and hardworking servant.