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There’s no place like home for Phyllis DiLemmo. And Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, 2329 S. Third St., is just that.
“The first time I went to Our Lady of Mount Carmel, I stepped in that church and I thought, ‘I am home,’” she said. “Our Lady of Mount Carmel is my heart. I love being there.”
The resident of the 2500 block of South Sartain Street is well-known in the parish for her participation in the choir, which she founded nearly four decades ago.
DiLemmo also serves as a lector on occasion — something she’s been doing for about 26 years. And for 14 years she was a Eucharistic Minister, administering communion every Thursday at St. Monica Manor nursing home, 2509 S. Fourth St.
Her involvement with her parish, including volunteer efforts like cleaning the church pews and being part of the fundraising committee, surely hasn’t gone unnoticed, but she’s always remained humble. A few years ago, she earned the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Holy Name Society’s Person of the Year award.
“When my name was mentioned, I could not believe it,” DiLemmo, who had a similar reaction to her 2013 Difference Makers nomination, said. “I said to them, ‘You’re crazy for nominating me; there’s so many other people that do so many other things.’”
DiLemmo started singing for the church after she retired from working at Provident National Bank in 1963. She always thought about working part time afterward, but as her beloved husband’s health deterred, she knew he needed her help.
The South Philadelphia native, who just turned 83, said she now considers herself a “lady of leisure.” One can find her at church every Sunday singing in the choir or shopping with her daughter on occasion. She enjoys phone calls and visits from her two sons and five grandchildren, and she often frequents OLMC Senior Citizens every Tuesday for bingo.
“It’s just a place to laugh and have a good time,” she said. “It’s something to look forward to.”
Contact the South Philly Review at editor@southphillyreview.com.
2013 Difference Makers
/ Bruce Baldwin / Anthony Benedetto Sr. / Lou Berman / Beth Coleman /
/ Diane DellaVella / Phyllis DiLemmo /
/ Roe and Jim Gallo / Tyrique Glasgow / Ali Hackett / Deborah Holmes /
/ Kat Kendon / Harry McKay / Jaime Pannone / Juanita Perkins-Qui /
/ Gaetano Piccirilli / Megan Rosenbach / Ted Scairato Sr /
/ Rich Sisman / Dan Stevenson / Paula Terreri / Lynn Oakes West / Lawrence Whitaker / Robert Wilbowe / Ilene Wilder /
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