Father William R. Persia, CSC, 91

Father William R. Persia, CSC, 91.

Father William Richard Persia, CSC, 91, died on Jan. 24 after a short illness.

Father Persia was born in Niagara Falls on July 18, 1934, to Anthony and Mary (Rufran) and was one of four children. He attended Sacred Heart Grade School and went on to graduate from Niagara Falls High School. After high school graduation, he attended the University of New York at Fredonia, earning his Bachelor of Science degree in music education. 

After college, he entered the seminary at North Easton, Mass., where he studied philosophy and Latin before spending his Novitiate year in Bennington, Vt., in 1957. He made his first vows in Holy Cross on Aug, 16, 1958, and made final vows on Aug, 16, 1961. 

From 1958-62, he studied theology in Le Mans, France. He was ordained a Holy Cross priest on June 30, 1962. After ordination in 1962, Father Persia was sent to Spain to study for a fourth year of theology and to learn another language before he was assigned to work with Father Patrick Peyton and the Family Crusades in Spain for the following five years from 1963-68. 

From 1969-71, he taught French and Spanish at St. Peter’s High School in Gloucester, Mass., before teaching French, Spanish and Italian at St. Mark’s High School in Wilmington, Del., from 1971-80. He then taught French and Spanish at a high school in Canada for a year before assisting at St. Joseph’s Parish in Niagara Falls from 1982-84. From 1984-86, he taught various languages and was Chaplain and Community Superior at Cardinal Mooney High School in Rochester, before spending the next 20 years doing missionary work in Peru from 1986-2006. 

He would earn his master’s degree in religious studies and spiritual direction from Fordham University during his time in Peru. In 2007, he returned to the United States to serve as Superior of Holy Cross Community in North Dartmouth, Mass., for a year before he was assigned to assist at St. Rita’s Parish in Dade City, Fla., from 2008-12. From 2012-13, he served as Parochial Vicar at Sacred Heart St. Francis de Sales in Bennington, Vt., before residing at Christopher Lodge in Cocoa Beach, Fla., from 2013-20. From 2021 until his passing, Father Persia served as Chaplain for the St. Joseph Center in Valatie. Preceding Father Persia in death are his parents, and sisters Jo Palillo and Loretta Giancola. He is survived by his sister Mimi Perisa and beloved nieces and nephews

The Funeral Mass was held at St. Joseph Center Chapel in Valatie on Feb. 6, followed by the burial at St. Joseph Center Cemetery. Memorial contributions in support of the mission and ministries of the Congregation of Holy Cross can be made to: United States Province of Priests and Brothers, Office of Advancement, P.O. Box 765, Notre Dame, Ind., 46556-0765 or online at https://donate.holycrossusa.org.