Reverend Paul Michael Dede

Reverend Paul Michael Dede, 85, of Terre Haute passed away late Monday evening June 19, 2023 at Providence HealthCare.  He was a Catholic Priest for the Archdiocese of Indianapolis for 59 years.  Father Paul was born May 21, 1938 in Terre Haute to Arthur H. Dede and Helena O’Leary Dede.

Survivors include his sisters, Sr. Mary Mark Dede, S.P., Sr. Eileen Dede, S.P., Sr. Patricia Ann Dede, O.S.B. and Sr. Kathleen Dede, S.P.;  and several cousins.  He was preceded in death by his parents;  two brothers, Father John F. Dede and Father James R. Dede;  and a sister, Sr. Angele (Marcella) Dede.

Father Paul was a member of the remarkable Terre Haute family of Arthur and Helena Dede that produced 8 children, all of whom sought religious vocations.  He was a graduate of St. Meinrad Seminary in St. Meinrad, IN, St. Mary’s College in St. Mary, KY and Kenrick Seminary in St. Louis.  He was a chaplain with the United States Army serving in Germany and the United States.

Father Paul was ordained on May 3, 1964.  His career as a parish priest includes;  Assistant pastor, St. Andrew the Apostle, Indianapolis; 1965, assistant pastor, St. Malachy, Brownsburg; 1969, St. Augustine, Jeffersonville; 1971, chaplain, U.S. Army; 1974, pastor, St. Mary, Navilleton; 1975, administrator, St. Mary-of-the-Rock and St. Cecilia of Rome Mission, Oak Forest, with residence at St. John, Osgood; 1976, pastor, St. Mary, Mitchell; 1977, clinical pastoral education program, St. Raphael Hospital, New Haven, CT; 1978, Sacred Heart Rectory, Mount Pleasant, MI; 1980, chaplain, U.S. Army Reserve; 1983, pastoral care department, St. Joseph Hospital, Houston, TX; 1984, chaplain, V.A. Hospital, Biloxi, MS;  1986, administrator, St. Jude the Apostle, Spencer; 1993, pastor, St. Jude the Apostle, Spencer; 1999, reappointed pastor, St. Jude the Apostle, Spencer where he was pastor for a total of 22 years before his retirement in 2008.

Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 11:00 AM, Monday, June 26, 2023 at St. Jude the Apostle Catholic Church, 300 W Hillside Ave, Spencer, IN 47460, with Archbishop Charles C. Thompson officiating.  A graveside service and burial is scheduled for 3:00 PM, Monday in Calvary Cemetery, Terre Haute, IN.  Visitation will be prior to services from 9:00-11:00 AM in St. Jude the Apostle Church.  Arrangements are under the direction of Callahan & Hughes Funeral Home, 605 South 25th Street.  If so desired, memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude the Apostle Catholic Church of Spencer, Indiana, or to the Retirement Funds at the Sisters of Providence at St. Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana or Sisters of St. Benedict of Beech Grove, Indiana.  Funeral information and tributes may be found at www.callahanandhughes.com .