Priest Andrew T. Diehl Jr. fell asleep in the Lord on October 15, 2022, after a lengthy illness.
Father Andrew was the first son born to Andrew T. Diehl and Irene (Boiko) Diehl on August 29, 1958. He was a graduate of Absegami High School, Mays Landing, NJ in 1976. He attended and graduated from Saint Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary in May 1996. He called Saint Tikhon’s home and had many fond memories of his seminary life. Father Andrew also volunteered for many years at Saint Tikhon’s Summer Camp.
Father Andrew is survived by his four sons, Jason (and Brittani) Diehl of Summit Hill, PA; Nicholas (and Lauren) Diehl of Aiken, SC; Alexander Diehl of Warrenville, SC; and Thomas Diehl (and his fiancé Brittany Campbell) of Warrenville SC. Father Andrew has three grandchildren Ezra, Adeline and Evan. He has three nephews Joseph, Christopher and Timothy. He is also survived by his former wife Karen Diehl, the mother of his four sons. Special thanks to his caretaker in the last stages of his illness, Rosemary Reale, and to his good friend, Brian Conahan.
Father Andrew had the pleasure of working for Lexington County Emergency Medical, serving as an EMT for fifteen years until his medical retirement. Before moving to Aiken, SC, he served parishes in Wilmington, DE and Coaldale, PA.
Father Andrew was a generous, supportive and giving father and brother, who placed the well-being of others ahead of his own. He faced his diagnosis of cancer with great courage and a positive attitude, never lamenting his diagnosis as a misfortune but as God’s will. His faith in the goodness of God never wavered and serves as a lesson for us all. The family would like to thank his cancer team at Duke University Medical Center for their skilled, compassionate, and personalized care.
The family will receive friends on Friday afternoon, October 21, from 1:00 PM until 2:30 PM at Shellhouse-Rivers Funeral Home, 715 E Pine Log Rd, Aiken, SC 29803. A Panikhida will then be served at 3:00 PM at St. Catherine Orthodox Church, 1470 Edgefield Hwy, Aiken, SC 29801.
The funeral service will be served at 10:00 AM, with His Eminence Archbishop Michael presiding, at Saint Tikhon’s Monastery, South Canaan, PA. Interment will follow at the monastery cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to Saint Tikhon’s Monastery.
May Father Andrew’s memory be eternal!