Diego Correa, 51, a dedicated musician, composer and vocalist whose influence and gifts were shared and heard from Puerto Rico to the Diocese of Camden, died Oct. 23.
Born on April 21, 1964, in Salinas, Puerto Rico, he taught himself how to play the guitar and began his service to the church at an early age, through the Youth Catholic Action group.
Arriving in the United States in 1980, he first worked as a pastoral musician, was musical director of Saint Joseph Pro-Cathedral in Camden and, most recently, was musical director at Divine Mercy Parish in Vineland. He also coordinated the musical direction of the Hispanic Archdiocesan Choir of Philadelphia.
Along with his wife, Damaris Thillet, associate director of Worship for the Diocese of Camden, Diego was a composer and recording artist for music publishers such as Oregon Catholic Press and World Library Publications, creating pieces inspired by the Scriptures, and noted for the musical styles and rhythms of Puerto Rico. He was also a founding member of the Association of Pastoral Musicians East, and a member of the National Hispanic Institute of Liturgy.
He and Damaris participated in last month’s Mass with Pope Francis on the Ben Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia, as a member of the Hispanic Papal Choir and a solo voice in the liturgy.
Earlier this month, he and Damaris were among 11 individuals honored with the Prominent Hispanic Award by the Camden County Freeholder Board’s Office of Hispanic Affairs.
In addition to Damaris, Diego is survived by his father, Diego Correa; mother, Maria Alvarado; stepmother, Amilda Ortiz; daughter, Yomaris; son, Joel; siblings Luis Correa Alvarado, Nydia Aguirre, Lizandra Correa Alvarado, Leonardo Correa Ortiz, Beatriz Dunning, Mariela Gonzalez, and Arnaldo Gonzalez; uncles, cousins, nephews; and a large extended family.
A funeral Mass took place at Divine Mercy Parish in Vineland on Oct. 29. On Nov. 1, Diego will be buried in Salinas, Puerto Rico.
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