Rev. William Fraser Sears

The Reverend William F. Sears, 88, Senior Priest of the Diocese of Providence died on Tuesday, June 21, 2016.

Born in Providence, Rhode Island, son of the late Harold L. and Mary (Fraser) Sears, he attended St. Anthony School in Providence, St. Joseph High School and St. Joseph College in Callicoon, New York. He was ordained a permanent deacon of the Diocese of Providence on June 29, 1979. Then in preparation for the Priesthood, he studied at Pope John XXIII Seminary in Weston, Massachusetts. He was ordained a priest on November 24, 1984 in the Cathedral of SS peter and Paul in Providence by Bishop Louis E. Gelineau.

Father Sears served as assistant pastor of Blessed Sacrament Parish in Providence (1984-1986) and at St. Patrick Parish in Harrisville in 1987. In September 1987 he became chaplain at the Newport Hospital with residence at St. Joseph Parish in Newport. Fr. Sears served also on the Board of Trustees of the Newport Hospital.

In September 1993 he was appointed administrator of Our Lady of Victories Parish in Woonsocket. In November 1995 he was appointed chaplain in the Rhode Island Prison system in Cranston. Due to his deteriorating health in March 1996 he became part time assistant at St. Mary, Star of the Sea Parish in Narragansett and in September 1997 he retired as a senior Priest but continued to help out in various parishes of the diocese, especially at St. Aidan’s Parish in Cumberland.

Calling hours for Fr. Sears will be Friday, June 24, from 9:00 am until 10:30 am in St. Aidan Church, 1460 Diamond Hill Road, Cumberland.

A concelebrated Mass of Christian Burial will be offered for the repose of father’s soul on Friday, June 24th at 10:30 am in St. Aidan’s Parish Church. His burial will be in St. Francis Cemetery, Pawtucket.

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