John Donald De Lellis

John was born in Philadelphia, PA and graduated from North East Catholic High School. He graduated from Spring Garden Institute, and also attended The University of Maryland. John was a veteran of the Army National Guard. He retired from his career at IBM in 2001. He was a parishioner at The Sacred Heart Cathedral in Raleigh, where he attended with his wife. While he lived in Maryland, he spent time volunteering with the Literacy Council helping people learn to read.

John had a great love for ballroom dancing. He also took joy in classical music, and attending the Opera. Along with his wife Lee, he taught ballroom dancing on a cruise ships over a ten-year period.

John is survived by his loving wife, Leona “Lee” De Lellis; sister-in-law, Mary Lou De Lellis, sister and brother-in-law, Barbara and Jack Scully, and sister-in-law, Geri Mulgrew; nieces and nephews, Renee Henrich, Ronald Fella, Thomas De Lellis, Dana De Lellis, Kelly De Sale, Suzie Jackson, Jenny Ketterl, Mary Melin, Guy Murray, Jay Murray, and Cheryl Henkels. He is also survived by many great friends and neighbors. John was preceded in death by his parents, Vitulia and Thomas De Lellis; brother, Thomas De Lellis; sister, Marie De Lellis Fella; and a niece, Katie Trammel.

A visitation will be held on Sunday, September 14, 2014 from 6:00 – 8:00pm, at Mitchell Funeral Home, 7209 Glenwood Avenue, Raleigh, NC. A funeral mass will be held on Monday, September 15, 2014 at 10:00am, at The Sacred Heart Cathedral, 219 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, NC. In lieu of flowers, the family request donations be made in John’s memory to The American Heart Association, 3131 RDU Center Dr, Morrisville, NC 27560.