March 14, 2024

Father William Rousseau, retired Chicopee pastor, dies at 75

REGIONAL
Staff report

SPRINGFIELD – Father William Rousseau, retired pastor of St. Anne Parish in Chicopee, died on March 12 at Mercy Medical Center in Springfield. He was 75.

Father Rousseau was born on March 22, 1948 in Trenton, N.J., and was the son of Howard William Rousseau and Josephine May Thompson. He graduated from Hamilton High West in Trenton, and received bachelor of arts degrees in elementary education and education of the deaf from Trenton State College. He later earned a master’s degree in special education and taught handicapped children in schools in New Jersey and Pennsylvania for a total of 20 years.

He studied at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., from 1990-1992, where he was in formation to enter the Pallottine Order. He then completed theology studies at St. John the XXIII Seminary in Weston, Mass., and was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Springfield on July 1, 1995 at St. Michael’s Cathedral in Springfield.

Father Rousseau served as parochial vicar at the former St. Patrick Parish, Chicopee and at St. Ann Parish, Lenox. He was administrator at the former St. Theresa and St. Anthony parishes in Agawam, while also serving in part-time ministry at the Bureau for Exceptional Children and Adults at Jericho in Holyoke. He also served as administrator of All Saints Parish in Agawam, which was formed through the merger of St. Theresa and St. Anthony parishes.

He was pastor at St. Patrick Parish in South Hadley from Sept. 7, 2002 to June 1, 2003, and then was pastor of St. Anne Parish, Chicopee, from June 1, 2003 to June 1, 2009, and again from June 29, 2011 until his retirement on May 1, 2014.

His survivors include his brother and sister-in-law, David and Kathy Rousseau of Knoxville, Tenn.; nieces Danielle Wolcott and Karen Rousseau Cole and their husbands and children, all of Tennessee; nephew David Rousseau and his wife and children, of Maryville, Tenn.; cousins. Linda Senf, Beth Thompson and Keith Thompson; and many parishioners, friends and extended family members.

Father Rousseau will lie in state at St. Anne Church, 30 College St., Chicopee, on Tuesday, March 19, from 4-6 p.m., with a prayer service at 6 p.m. Springfield Bishop William D. Byrne will be the main celebrant of the Liturgy of Christian Burial on Wednesday, March 20, at 11 a.m. at St. Anne Church. Burial will follow the Mass at St. Rose de Lima Cemetery, 49 Olsen St., Chicopee.

Memorial donations may be made to St. Anne Church, 30 College St., Chicopee, MA 01020.