1928 - 2024
Visitation
May 7, 20244-7 P.M.
Dolan Funeral Home, 106 Middlesex Street, N. Chelmsford
Funeral
May 8, 202411 A.M.
St. Margaret of Scotland Church, 374 Stevens Street, Lowell
Reverand William Thomas Pearsall III, 95, died peacefully on Sunday, April 21, 2024 at Regina Cleri House in Boston, MA. He was born in Lowell, MA on August 14, 1928, and was the son of William T. Pearsall, Jr. and Esther (Fox) Pearsall. He was the stepson of Catherine (Sheedy) Pearsall.
Fr. Pearsall grew up in Lowell, and was educated in the Lowell school system. He graduated in 1946 from Keith Academy, and later entered the St. John’s Seminary in Brighton. He was ordained on September 29, 1953 in Holy Cross Cathedral, Boston by Cardinal Richard Cushing.
After Ordination, Fr. Pearsall served at St. John Chrysostom Parish in West Roxbury from 1953 to 1956, and later at St. Joseph Parish in Wakefield from 1956 to 1959. In 1958, he answered the call of Cardinal Cushing to serve in South America. He was the first among fourteen priests who volunteered for The Missionary Society of St. James the Apostle in 1959. For the next 41 years, he served as a missionary in parishes in Peru, including in the Abancay, Piura, Sicuani and Chimbote dioceses. He assumed the role of the Director of the St. James Society from 1993 to 1997. After retirement in 2000, he remained active in the St. Stephen Parish in Framingham, and later resided at Regina Cleri House. Throughout his life, Fr. Pearsall enjoyed traveling and meeting family and friends in the U.S. and Europe. He was a devoted “big brother” and uncle. He was an avid Patriots and NASCAR fan, and second-to-none at trivia.
Fr. Pearsall is survived by his brother, Paul Pearsall of N. Chelmsford; seven nieces, Katherine Kinch, Elizabeth (Kinch) Nyhoff, Marianne (Kinch) Johnson, Margaret (Kinch) Lanskey, Karen (Kinch) Solis, Janet (Pearsall) Sistare, and Paula (Pearsall) Gearan; four nephews, Raymond Kinch, William Pearsall, Mark Pearsall, and Michael Pearsall; cousin, Gerald Pearsall; many more loving cousins, grandnieces and grandnephews, and his religious family. In addition to his parents, Fr. Pearsall is predeceased by his sister Elizabeth Kinch of Littleton, CO, brother-in-law Raymond Kinch, and sister-in-law Miriam “Mimi” (Ryan) Pearsall. He was also the nephew of the late Rev. Ernest Pearsall and Sr. Mary (Ernest) Pearsall.
A Rite of Reception will be held on May 6 from 2 to 3 pm at Regina Cleri House, 60 William Cardinal O’Connell Way, Boston, where Fr. Pearsall will lie in state. Relatives and friends are invited to attend Fr. Pearsall’s visitation on May 7 from 4 to 7 pm at Dolan Funeral Home, 106 Middlesex Street, North Chelmsford. Fr. Pearsall will lie in state on May 8 from 10 to 11 am at St. Margaret of Scotland Church, 374 Stevens St. Lowell, with a Concelebrated Funeral Mass to be held immediately following at 11 am at St. Margaret’s. Most Rev. Robert F. Hennessey, Regional Bishop, Principal Celebrant. Interment at St. Patrick’s Cemetery in Lowell.
In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made to The Missionary Society of St. James the Apostle | Boston, MA (socstjames.com) in memory of Fr. William T. Pearsall. Arrangements by DOLAN FUNERAL HOME 978-251-4041. Guestbook at www.dolanfuneralhome.com
Ron Beane
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I was a young boy age 10 years to 14 years old when Father Pearsall was at Saint Joseph Church in Wakefield , Ma now heading to my 78 Birthday in June.
When I heard of his passing at mass last week my mind was flooded of what an exceptional priest and individual he was.
His obituary shows he grew to be even better of each year of his life.
God bless hiim. My prayers are with him.