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John Feilla Obituary
April 18, 1936 - May 1, 2020
John M. Feilla, MD, an internist who spent five decades caring for patients, passed away on May 1, 2020. He was born in Port Said, Egypt to Louis and Fernande Feilla, receiving a baccalaureate in French literature and letters from De La Salle, where he was also an accomplished soccer player. He trained to be a physician in Grenoble, France where he met his wife, Catherine, and where his two sons, Jean-Luc and Jean-Michel, were born, before moving to Detroit in 1966. He completed his residency at St. John Hospital and, in 1970, began his career in private practice in East Detroit (Eastpointe). He was a caring and committed doctor, devoted to his patients and their families. In 2018, he received a special recognition from the American Heart Association of Detroit for his exceptional success fighting heart disease. An avid amateur historian, he contributed articles to Slingshot magazine on ancient and medieval military history, for which he won the Alan Nicholls Prize in 1981 from the Society of Ancients. He was a loving and beloved father, husband, and grandfather. He is survived by his wife, Catherine; his children Luc (Karen), Mike (Cathy), and Cecilia (Michael); and grandchildren Collin, Tristan, Ian, and Anna. He will be missed dearly by many.
In John's memory, his family suggests donations to Ascension St. John Hospital.
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Memories and Condolences
for John Feilla
Deb & John Russell
May 5, 2025
This wonderful man may be physically gone but he will Never be forgotten! We continue to miss his help and advice as well as his friendship! He was truly One in a Million and we will Always be Grateful for his presence in our lives for so many years!
Deb & John Russell
E.Foy
April 30, 2025
I will always remember Dr Feilla. He was so kind to me and really listened to me. I truly miss him as physician, he definitely was one of a kind and will truly be missed. Thankful I was referred to him. Sending love, light, and peace to his family.
Ebony
February 2, 2025
Dear Dr. Fellia, I am still remembering your presence and reminiscing about your positive genuine and upbeat attitude. As a professional you were the best and you are truly missed rest peacefully
John and Deborah Russell
April 30, 2024
Gone but Never forgotten!! Our family will be forever grateful for this wonderful man´s presence in our lives!! He was `one in a million´ and is sorely missed !
May his family, and the rest of us that adored him, always remember how special he was, and take comfort in knowing how many lives that he positively affected!!
Betty
December 28, 2023
Dear Doctor Feilla. The world is an emptier place without your kind heart and your big smile. You are loved. You are missed. Thank you for always being there and always caring.
Deborah & John Russell
May 1, 2023
Dear Family of Dr Feilla,
Praying that you have found some comfort in wonderful memories and the tributes of so many for your loss!
Dr Feilla was a gem and left an amazing imprint on our family´s lives for which we will be forever grateful!
He is sorely missed for his superb care, his wonderful advice and his friendship!
Although he is physically gone, we will Never forget him, as we´re sure that many others won´t either, which is a testimony to a life well lived!
Thank you for sharing him with us!
Take care, Deborah & John Russell
Rev. James K. Warunek
May 1, 2023
The good doctor and his family continue to be in my heart and prayers...
Robert Porter
April 30, 2023
Dr. John Feilla M.D. was a great physician and confidant, and I will never forget him. I miss his advice and positive attitude. I am grateful to have been his patient, and I will continue to pray for him!
John& Deborah Russell
May 1, 2022
Dear Family of Dr Feilla,
It´s hard to believe that it´s been 2 years since our beloved Dr Feilla has passed.
Although he is gone, he will never be forgotten!
Our family still misses him tremendously, not only for his excellent medical care , but for his friendship as well.
We were always greeted with a warm hug and a bright smile whether we saw him at his office, the local Kroger, GP Library, or as he jogged or rode his bike around the neighborhood.
He was a wonderful person and an amazing physician! Many thanks to all of you for sharing him with us for so many years.
We hope that you can take some comfort in knowing how much he meant to so many! Take care of yourselves...
John & Deborah Russell
ROBERT PORTER
May 1, 2022
I will never forget Dr. John Feilla and the care and advice that he provided, as my physician. I continue to pray for Dr. Feilla, and for all doctors and caregivers who have cared for me, and kept me healthy. May they enjoy their eternal reward and God's blessing for their good work!
Susan Murray Askar
January 14, 2022
I worked for Dr. Feilla as a Medical Assistant in his Eastpointe office from 1975 - 1983. He was an excellent doctor and a pleasure to work for. I know some of his patients who followed him whenever he transferred his practice and they say they were so very fond of him and will really miss him. He was a kind and caring man.
John & Deborah Russell
May 1, 2021
It doesn’t seem possible that it’s been a year since our dear Dr Feilla has passed...He saw our family through many medical crises over almost 5 decades, and always with superb care, concern, and compassion! He was truly ‘one in a million’, and it was our good fortune to know him! We miss him tremendously, not only for his excellent medical care, but for his friendship as well! We will never forget him, and we will always remember him with love and gratitude! His wife and family continue to be in our prayers for their loss...
John & Deborah Russell
John & Deborah Russell
May 1, 2021
It doesn’t seem possible that it’s been a year since our dear Dr Feilla has passed....He saw our family through many medical crises over almost 5 decades, and always with superb care, concern and compassion! He was truly ‘one in a million’, and it was our good fortune to know him! We miss him tremendously, not only for his excellent medical care, but for his friendship as well! We will never forget him, and we will always remember him with love and gratitude! His wife and family continue to be in our prayers for their loss...
John & Deborah Russell
Robert Porter
April 30, 2021
I remember Dr. Feilla in my prayers, every night before I go to sleep. I miss him very much, and I will never forget his cheerful outlook, and all of the medical treatment and advice that he provided to me. May he rest in peace, and enjoy his heavenly reward!
James Warunek
April 30, 2021
I drove by his home and office to deliver condolence cards as soon as I learned of the news from dear friend Art. Since then, a year has already passed since the good doctor's passing. I am still recalling the good times we shared: meeting up at Grosse Pointe Libraries, sharing my early struggles with my mortuary school studies, sharing family stores. I try to emulate his "bedside manner" during my arrangement conferences. Thank you sir for your friendship and wisdom!
Robert Porter
August 22, 2020
Dr. John Feilla was much more than my personal physician. He was a great advisor, confidant, friend, and caregiver. Dr. Feilla personified the Hippocratic oath in his work, and i will remember him always!
Ruth Barcus
August 5, 2020
Dr. Feilla was an amazing doctor. He was my mother's doctor and friend from their Saratoga hospital days. I have known him my entire life and was always greeted with a warm hug and his great smile! I am crushed that our last hug in November of 2019 would truly be the last. Rest in peace Dr. John. You were the doctor everyone wishes they had.
Barbara Cieslak
July 9, 2020
We met Dr. Feilla became our family physician in 1982. He was a great doctor and took great care of both of us. He will be truly missed.
Over the years he wasn't just our family doctor but he also became a friend.
Goodbye dear friend you are loved and will be truly missed.
Barbara & Ted Cieslak
James K Warunek
July 5, 2020
I have just learned of the passing of Dr. Feilla today. We were to meet up this summer. He enjoyed my leaving him sour kraut pierogies at the office to enjoy at home. I have met the good doctor and his lovely wife Catherine about thirty years ago when he lived nearby. I have never had the privilege of meeting his sons and their families. Catherine actually had babysat my daughter Jane, now 30, when she was a toddler. John was a humanitarian and a wonderful person. Confolences also to Drs. Ron Montano, Claus Petermann, Mohammed A. Kahn, Saima Kahn, Robert France, and Steffanie Schwutke. Meanwhile, if there is anything I can help you with, please reach out any time.
Lelio & Teresa DAristotile
June 14, 2020
We just found out today June 12 that Dr Fiella passed away. Our hearts are deeply saddened by this. I knew Dr Fiella for 49 years my mom took me to see him when I was 12 years old and after I married, my husband started to see him they would have long conversations in Italian. Dr Fiella always enjoyed visiting with us and the feeling was mutual. He would always ask about our family, and my mom and brother, and my sister and her family. He was a wonderful doctor so patient always took his time with you he was so knowledgeable you could ask him anything and he always knew the answers to your questions you always left his office feeling so much better than when you arrived. Dr Fiella was so full of life a great man and a great doctor. I still cant believe he is gone he will truly be missed by our family. May God bless Dr Fiella and his family.
Ronilo C Montano
June 12, 2020
I would like to express my sincere condolence to the family for this great loss. John is not only a good friend of mine, but also my associate partner at our office Family Practice Care. His wisdom and knowledge in medicine is exceptional. I will surely miss him. Dr. Ronilo C. Montano, MD
Ebony Foy
June 11, 2020
Im so sad to hear Dr Feilla passed away. I was referred to him as a patient by a staff member in November 2017. He was very compassionate, knowledgeable, caring, great listener, professional, and always provided me with the best care going above and beyond. He was always so upbeat & I admired that thinking I wanted to be in his great spirits at that age. He was the best doctor hands down and will truly be missed. I send my condolences, love, & prayers to his family, he was truly a great person. If I had known my last visit would be the last time, I wouldve hugged Dr Feilla Im really sad the world lost a great man!
John & Deborah Russell
May 31, 2020
This wonderful man embodied everything that youd hope for in your doctor. His compassion, kindness, and care went Above and Beyond! He always patiently took as much time as you needed during your office visit or phone call, and his mere presence was enough to make you feel better.
He was our familys doctor, and friend, for over 48 years and we
already miss him tremendously. He was the Best of the best, and he will Never be forgotten!
May he Rest In Peace, and May God grant comfort to his family during this difficult time!
With deepest sympathy,
John and Deborah Russell
Nicole LaRosa
May 25, 2020
Dr Feilla was a very compassionate Doctor. I was his patient for 21 years. He was my mothers physician for 40 years. I just found out about his passing on 5/24. It was very sad news. I dont think Ill ever have or meet another Doctor like him. May his soul Rest In Peace.
Nicole LaRosa
May 25, 2020
Dr Feilla was a very compassionate Doctor. I was his patient for 21 years. He was my mothers physician for 40 years. I just found out about his passing on 5/24. It was very sad news. I dont think Ill ever have or meet another Doctor like him. May his soul Rest In Peace.
Arthur Mock
May 18, 2020
Dr.Fiella was my doctor for 10 years.He always listened to whatever anyone had to say.(this made for long waiting-room sessions). But we always knew he would listen to us,too. He had a knowledgable answer to all our medical questions. This lovely man was so intelligent and informed.I was not one of his more recent patients,having moved and not seen him in 8 or 9 years..I will always remember his kind and gentle manner. He will be greatly missed. Arthur Mock
Marion Potts
May 17, 2020
He was an amazing physician and my doctor for many many years. He will be greatly missed by his family and his patients. He was a very carrying doctor.
Robert Laurence
May 14, 2020
Today, May 14th, I found out Dr. Feilla passed back on May 1st. He was my doctor for 25 years: most committed physician Ive ever met. Because of him, my mother - 98 years old - is alive and doing well today. My sincerest condolences to his family. He will be missed by so many.
Lisah Bey
May 13, 2020
May your hearts soon be filled with wonderful memories of joyful times together as you celebrate a life well lived. He will surely be missed. Dr.Feilla was the most understanding and kindest doctor who took time to listen to his patients. Still can't believe it. May your family have the strength and love to see each other through these times. ☮ and to you and yours.
Mark Lesiak
May 12, 2020
I was a patient of Dr. Feilla for over 45 years and I will dearly miss him. Not only was Dr. Feilla a great doctor but he was a warm wonderful human being who took the time to listen to his patients. I have seen many doctors in my life time for numerous medical issues and Dr. Feilla was a first-rate top-notch doctor and the very best of the best.
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