The Rochester Catholic community is remembering Deacon Donald David Eggleston, a longtime family man, retired Eastman Kodak employee and permanent deacon whose years of service placed faith and community at the center of his life.
Eggleston died on September 25, 2026, at the age of 69.
For those who knew him through the Diocese of Rochester, his death marks the loss of a man who spent years serving the church while remaining deeply devoted to his wife, children, grandchildren and extended family.
His official obituary emphasizes those relationships alongside the religious vocation that became an important part of his later life.
Who Was Deacon Donald Eggleston?
Donald David Eggleston was born on March 27, 1957.
He spent much of his adult life in the Rochester area, building both a professional career and a life centered around his family.
Before entering the permanent diaconate, Eggleston worked for many years at Eastman Kodak Company, one of Rochester’s most historically important employers.
He eventually retired from Kodak, but retirement from professional employment did not mean withdrawing from service.
His Catholic ministry became a defining part of his public life.
A Permanent Deacon in the Diocese of Rochester
Eggleston was ordained as a Permanent Deacon in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester.
Catholic Courier reporting identifies him as part of the 2011 ordination class, alongside Deacon Robert E. Lyons.
The permanent diaconate is a ministry in which ordained deacons assist priests and bishops through liturgical service, preaching, baptisms, weddings, pastoral care, charitable ministry and other responsibilities within parish life.
Eggleston continued to be identified by the Diocese as a deacon even after moving to senior status.
His Service at St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish
The Diocese of Rochester’s pastoral directory lists Deacon Donald Eggleston at St. Stanislaus Kostka Church in Rochester with senior status.
Parish records also identified him in earlier years as a retired deacon serving alongside the parish clergy.
That connection placed him within a faith community known for its strong Polish Catholic heritage and long history in Rochester.
His ministry there formed part of the broader record of service remembered after his death.
Known for His Commitment to Ministry
One of the clearest glimpses into Eggleston’s character comes from comments he made earlier in 2026 after the death of fellow deacon Robert Lyons.
Eggleston remembered Lyons as a kind and intelligent man who remained deeply committed to ministry despite health difficulties.
Those comments reflected values that also shaped Eggleston’s own life as a deacon: commitment, service, faith and respect for others.
A Career at Eastman Kodak Before Retirement
Outside church life, Eggleston spent many years working for Eastman Kodak Company.
His obituary does not provide a detailed job title or complete employment timeline, but it confirms that he retired from Kodak after a long period of service.
For generations of Rochester families, Kodak represented far more than an employer. It was one of the region’s defining institutions.
Eggleston’s professional background therefore placed him within an important part of Rochester’s economic and community history.
Family Remained at the Center of His Life
While his religious ministry was publicly visible, Eggleston’s obituary places family at the heart of his life.
He is survived by his wife, Mary, as well as his children Elizabeth Helton, whose husband is Matthew, and Jeffrey Eggleston, whose wife is Allison.
He is also survived by his grandchildren Wesley, Tristan and Rev, his brother Richard Eggleston and his wife Sandy, along with extended relatives and friends.
His parents, William and Maryjane Eggleston, and his brother William C. Eggleston Jr., died before him.
Donald Eggleston Cause of Death
A specific cause of death has not been publicly released.
The official obituary thanks medical teams at the Freedom Center Dialysis Clinic, Wilmot Cancer Institute and Hildebrandt Hospice Care Center for the care they provided during Eggleston’s journey.
Those acknowledgements indicate that he had been receiving substantial medical care, but they do not establish a specific cause of death.
It would therefore be inaccurate to state that cancer, kidney disease or another particular condition caused his death unless the family later confirms that information.
The appropriate wording is that his cause of death remains undisclosed.
Medical Teams Remembered in the Family’s Tribute
Eggleston’s family specifically expressed gratitude to the healthcare professionals who supported him.
The acknowledgement included staff at the Freedom Center Dialysis Clinic, Wilmot Cancer Institute and Hildebrandt Hospice Care Center.
Rather than focusing solely on illness, the tribute emphasized the kindness, dignity and compassion shown to him.
That gratitude provides an important glimpse into the care surrounding his final chapter.
A Life of Service in More Than One Form
Eggleston’s life combined several different kinds of service.
There was his professional contribution through decades at Kodak.
There was his service as a husband, father and grandfather.
And there was his ordained ministry in the Catholic Church.
Those roles were different, but each placed responsibility toward other people at the center of his life.
Why Permanent Deacons Matter in Catholic Communities
Permanent deacons often become familiar figures within parish life because their ministry extends beyond the altar.
They may assist at Mass, proclaim the Gospel, preach, celebrate baptisms and marriages, preside at funeral rites and carry out ministries of charity.
Many permanent deacons are also married and have professional careers outside the church.
Eggleston’s own life reflected that model: professional work, family responsibility and ordained ministry existing side by side.
Rochester Catholic Community Remembers His Ministry
Eggleston’s death is especially significant within Rochester’s Catholic community because his ministry stretched across years of parish life.
The Diocese continued to list him among its senior-status deacons, reflecting his enduring connection to ministry even after active duties became more limited.
His death removes another member of the 2011 diaconate class from the Rochester church community.
Funeral Mass Planned at St. Charles Borromeo Church
Family and friends will gather on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Rochester.
Visitation is scheduled from 9:30 a.m. until 10:30 a.m.
The Funeral Mass will begin immediately afterward at 10:30 a.m.
The church is located at 3003 Dewey Avenue in Rochester.
Burial at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery
Following the Funeral Mass, Eggleston will be laid to rest at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery.
The burial will conclude formal services honoring a man whose life was closely connected with both his family and the Catholic Church.
Remembering Deacon Donald David Eggleston
Donald Eggleston’s legacy cannot be reduced to one title.
He was a Kodak employee who spent years contributing to one of Rochester’s most recognizable companies.
He was a husband and father whose obituary places family at the center of his life.
He was a grandfather.
And he was a permanent deacon who devoted years to Catholic ministry.
For the Rochester community, those parts of his life now come together in remembrance.
A Legacy Rooted in Faith and Family
At 69, Deacon Donald David Eggleston leaves behind a legacy shaped less by public attention than by steady service.
His work at Kodak connected him with Rochester’s industrial history.
His ministry connected him with the Diocese and parish life.
His family connected him with the relationships that mattered most personally.
As relatives, friends and members of Rochester’s Catholic community gather for his Funeral Mass, they will remember a man whose life moved through work, family and faith with service as a constant thread.