Valatie, N.Y. – 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), and is 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 August 16, 1958, and made final vows on August 16, 1961. From 1958 to 1962, he studied theology in LeMans, France. He was ordained a Holy Cross priest on June 30, 1962.
After ordination in 1962, Fr. 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 Fr. Peyton and the Family Crusades in Spain for the following five years from 1963 to 1968. From 1969-1971, 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 1971-1980. 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, N.Y., from 1982 to 1984. From 1984 to 1986, he taught various languages and was chaplain and community superior at Cardinal Mooney High School in Rochester, N.Y., before spending the next twenty years doing missionary work in Peru from 1986 to 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 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 are his parents, sisters Jo Palillo and Loretta Giancola. He is survived by sister, Mimi Perisa, and beloved nieces and nephews.
Viewing and Prayers will be held on Thursday, February 5, 2026, at Castleton Funeral Home in Castle-on-Hudson, N.Y., from 4:00-7:00 p.m. Visitation will be held on Friday, February 6, 2026, at 9:00 am at St. Joseph Center Chapel in Valatie, N.Y., followed by a Funeral Mass there at 11:00 a.m.
Burial will be in St. Joseph Center Cemetery in Valatie, N.Y., Castleton Funeral Home in Castle-on-Hudson, N.Y., is in charge of the arrangements.
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, IN 46556-0765 or online at https://donate.holycrossusa.org
