The Rev. John M. Palmer, C.S.V., 81 of Arlington Heights was born October 19th, 1941 in Nova Scotia, Canada to Owen and Madeleine (Pettipas) Palmer, and died April 2nd, 2023 at Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights, Illinois. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Candace and his brother William.
In January 1965, Fr. Palmer came to the United States from Halifax, Nova Scotia to enter the novitiate of the Clerics of St. Viator. He made his first profession in 1966 and was ordained a priest on Jan. 2, 1971 at St. John Church, in Windsor, Nova Scotia.
Fr. Palmer graduated from Windsor Academy in Nova Scotia in 1960. He earned a BA in Music from Acadia University in Wolfville, Nova Scotia (1964). Before his ordination, Fr. Palmer completed his seminary studies at the Viatorian Seminary and Washington Theological Coalition, both in Washington D.C. He earned a MA in Music at Northwestern University, a performance diploma (ARCT) for organ at Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto, a Licentiate in piano (LTCL) and a Fellowship in organ (FTCL) both from Trinity College of Music in London. He also studied with Jean Langlais in Paris.
From 1971 to 1972, Fr. Palmer served as director of music at Christ the King Church and St. Viator Parish, both Chicago, Illinois.
He served as professor of music at Benedictine University at Lisle, Illinois where he taught from 1971 until he retired in 2004 as Professor Emeritus.
Fr. Palmer also provided sacramental ministry on weekends at St. Petronille Parish in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, from 1987 until 2020. In 2022, Fr. Palmer moved to the Viatorian Province Center in Arlington Heights, Illinois.
In addition to his teaching and parish work, Fr. Palmer has given numerous organ recitals in Europe, Canada and the United States and served as an examiner for the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto.
A visitation for Fr. Palmer will begin at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, April 5th, 2023 at the Viatorian Province Center, 1212 East Euclid Avenue in Arlington Heights, Illinois followed at 11 a.m. by a Mass of Christian Burial. Interment to follow at Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Hillside, Illinois.
In lieu of flowers, contributions to the Clerics of St. Viator appreciated.
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