January 18, 2025

Father John S. Lis, 1945-2025, Ordination Class of 1973

REGIONAL

SPRINGFIELD – Father John S. Lis, a priest of the Diocese of Springfield, died Thursday, Jan. 16. He was 79 years old.

A native of Easthampton, he was the son of the late Chester C. Lis and Mary T. Zawalich. He attended Sacred Heart Grammar School and Easthampton High School before entering St. Mary’s College, Orchard Lake, Mich. He went on in his priestly formation attending Sts. Cyril and Methodius Seminary and the American College, Louvain, Belgium.

Father Lis was ordained on July 7, 1973 at St. Joseph’s Church, Pittsfield.

He served as an assistant pastor at St. John Cantius, Northampton; Holy Rosary, Hadley; St. John the Evangelist, Agawam; St. Stanislaus Kostka, Adams and Annunciation Parish, Florence.

He also served as administrator of Our Lady of Czestochowa, Turners Falls; St. Ann, Lenox, St. Vincent de Paul, Lenoxdale, and North American Martyrs, Lanesboro.

He served as pastor at Sacred Heart, Greenfield, Holy Rosary, Hadley and Our Lady of the Valley, Sheffield. His final assignment was as administrator of Our Lady of the Hills, Haydenville.

He retired from active ministry in January 2009.

Funeral services for Father Lis will take place Thursday Jan. 23 at the Our Lady of the Valley Parish Church in Easthampton. A wake will take place in the church starting at 9 a.m., followed by the funeral Mass at 11am. He will be buried at St. Stanislaus Cemetery in Easthampton.