Fr Des passed away peacefully at Justin Villa, Balwyn on Tuesday 3rd September aged 90 years.
Loved brother of John, Kevin (dec) and Tony.
He will be dearly missed by his nieces and nephews.
Fr Des was ordained a priest at St Patrick’s Cathedral, East Melbourne on 23rd July 1961.
He served in the Parishes of Healesville (1961), Norlane (1962), Jordanville (1966), Ferntree Gully (1969), Burwood (1973), Parkville (1974),
Seaford (1977), Ivanhoe East (1985) and as Chaplain to the Repatriation Hospital in Heidelberg.
Fr Des was appointed to his last parish in Castlemaine in 1999 where he remained until his retirement in January 2009.
May he rest in peace.
The Pontifical Vigil Mass for the repose of the soul of Fr Des will be offered in St Therese’s Catholic Church,
48A Lincoln Road, Essendon on Sunday evening 15th September at 6.00pm.
A Requiem Mass will be offered for Fr Des in St Mary’s Catholic Church, Hargraves Street, Castlemaine on Monday 16th September at 11.30am.
Following refreshments, the cortege will then be leaving for burial at the Sandon Catholic Cemetery.
If you wish to join us at the Mass in Castlemaine via livestream
please return to the home page of this website and click on the livestream button.
The service will be live approximately 5 -10 minutes prior to commencing.
16th September 2024 at 11:30 AM
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Dear Des,
you were a kind, caring and always welcoming.
Since we met 47 years ago it’s been a pleasure to know you.
You showed a Catholic Church that was welcoming to women, that it was the spirit of the laws of the church that mattered rather than following the letter of the law.
I enjoyed meeting your Dad when he came to live in Seaford and taking him to the footy to watch the Bombers, the team you both followed.
I enjoyed catching up after you left the Seaford Parish of St Anne’s, our lunches and regular phone calls.
Always encouraging you to keep walking for exercise even when your sight was failing and you needed a stick and then the arm of a companion.
You will be greatly missed.
May you rest in peace knowing you contributed greatly to make our world a better place.
Lots of love, Diane Johnstone
How fortunate have we been to have had such a gentle man in our extended family. As a Priest Des officiated at our marriage,
baptised our children and sadly was also there years later for our daughter Brigittes farewell Mass.
We thank you Des for being there for us.
Loving memories, Joan (O’ Keefe) and Jùrgen Huhn – Wangaratta
A fond farewell to Father Des from the Byrne family (Ivanhoe East).
We remember your gentleness, humility and good humour when faced with adversity.
You were the model of a good priest to this family of altar boys.
Bernadette, John, Joseph, Kieran, Dominic and Francis Byrne
My sympathies to Fr Des’s brothers, John and Tony, and his nieces and nephews.
When Fr Des came to St Joseph’s Parish in Havant, UK, swapping parish with Fr Tom Grufferty for a year, I was the parish-priest in the next parish, St Michael’s in Leigh Park.
To me he was a gentle, caring and loyal friend and a wonderful brother in the priesthood. To the parishioners of St Joseph’s throughout that year he spent with them, he
was truly a loving shepherd and caring father to them all. I was blessed to have kept contact with him right to the end. Thank you, Fr Des.
May he rest in peace and rise to the new life with his Creator, the Father, his Saviour Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.
Father Felix Muscat – Hayling Island, England
Fr Des will always have a special place in our hearts. He will be truly missed.
Laurel & Zoli Mezei
Forever grateful for my cousin / brother, Father Des.
Thank you to Justin Villa Aged Care, to Sister Anita and to Sheila for the care.
Always remembered,
Peter Johnson
Fr Des …
I will always be so thankful that I had the pleasure of knowing you, caring for you and being with you in your last hours.
Thank you for your kindness, your beautiful nature and the special moments we shared.
Justin Villa will not be the same without you, and your memory will live on in us all!
Jillian Pool – Lifestyle Coordinator Justin Villa
To my precious Uncle Des whom I will miss dearly.
He was like a father to me, his kindness, care and support to me and especially my mother Joan his sister in law.
I will never forget, I am heartbroken that he has passed away, but I know he will be with Jesus where there is no more pain or suffering.
What a privilege it has been to have you as my uncle, you were always thinking of others even when you were suffering yourself.
I learnt so much from you Uncle Des, especially our Irish history both sides of the family ‘Magennis’.
I prayed with me many times, and for my children.
You had a great sense of humor and I could talk to you about anything.
I love you and miss you and you will always be in my heart.
Your Niece, Anne Maree Magennis.
A really lovely man.
So easy to talk to.
Rest In Peace Father Des.
Maria Derrett
Father Des,
it was such a pleasure knowing you and working alongside you at St Mary’s.
You were such a lovely kind man and a wonderful Parish Priest.
So many cherished memories.
Karen Williams.
Not only was Des my cousin, he played a major part in our family’s lives, in good times and very sad times.
His gentle nature and sense of humour made it a pleasure to be in his company and we were always happy to see him.
He will be very sadly missed.
Rest in Peace Des.
Maureen Sullivan (O’Keefe)