Rev. William R. Persia, C.S.C.

Valatie- Rev. William Richard Persia, C.S.C., 91, died on Saturday, January 24, 2026, after a short illness.

Rev. William Persia, C.S.C., was born in Niagara Falls, N.Y., on July 18, 1934, to Anthony and Mary (Rufran) Persia, and was one of four children. He attended Sacred Heart Grade School and graduated from Niagara Falls High School. After high school, he attended the State University of New York at Fredonia, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in music education.

Following college, he entered the seminary in 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 August 16, 1958, and his final vows on August 16, 1961. From 1958 to 1962, he studied theology in Le Mans, France. He was ordained a Holy Cross priest on June 30, 1962.

After ordination, Fr. Persia was sent to Spain to study for a fourth year of theology and to learn another language. He then worked with Fr. Peyton and the Family Crusades in Spain from 1963 to 1968. From 1969 to 1971, 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 to 1980.

He then taught French and Spanish at a high school in Canada for one year before assisting at St. Joseph's Parish in Niagara Falls, N.Y., from 1982 to 1984. From 1984 to 1986, he taught various languages and served as chaplain and community superior at Cardinal Mooney High School in Rochester, N.Y., before spending the next twenty years in missionary work in Peru from 1986 to 2006. During his time in Peru, he earned a master's degree in religious studies and spiritual direction from Fordham University.

In 2007, he returned to the United States to serve as superior of the Holy Cross Community in North Dartmouth, Mass., for one year. He was then assigned to assist at St. Rita's Parish in Dade City, Fla., from 2008 to 2012. From 2012 to 2013, 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 to 2020. From 2021 until his passing, Fr. Persia served as chaplain for the St. Joseph Center in Valatie, N.Y.

Preceding Fr. Persia in death were his parents and his sisters, Jo Palillo and Loretta Giancola. He is survived by his sister, Mimi Persia, and his beloved nieces and nephews.

Visitation and prayers will be held from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 5, 2026, at the Castleton Funeral Home, 59 Seaman Ave., Castleton, NY 12033. Visitation will also be held from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. on Friday, February 6, 2026, at St. Joseph Center Chapel, 495 Maple Ln., Valatie, NY 12184. Fr. Persia's Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, February 6, 2026, at St. Joseph Center Chapel. The Rite of Committal will immediately follow at St. Joseph Center Cemetery, 495 Maple Ln., Valatie, NY 12184.

Memorial contributions in support of the mission and ministries of the Congregation of Holy Cross may be made to the United States Province of Priests and Brothers, Office of Advancement, P.O. Box 765, Notre Dame, IN 46556-0765, or online at https://donate.holycrossusa.org/