Rev. William P. O’Neill

REV.  WILLIAM   P.  O’NEILL, Senior Priest-Retired, died Tuesday July 12, 2022, after having received the prayerful support and consolation of the Sacraments. William P. O’Neill was born on Feb. 15, 1935. His parents were the late Harold and Gertrude (nee Flecknoe), and he was the brother of Margaret “Peggy,” James (wife Sherry), Thomas (wife Judy) and the late Joan May and Dennis. He was also an uncle and great-uncle of many.

Father O’Neill was educated at St. Aloysius Elementary, Cleveland; St. Christine Elementary, Euclid; St. William Elementary, Euclid; Cathedral Latin High School, Cleveland; St. Charles College, Catonsville, Maryland; Borromeo Seminary, Wickliffe; and St. Mary Seminary, Cleveland.

On 20 May 1961 in the Cathedral of Saint John the Evangelist, Bishop Floyd L. Begin ordained him to the priesthood for the service of the Diocese of Cleveland. His first assignment was as Parochial Vicar of St. Jerome Parish, Cleveland. On 10 June 1965 he began canon law studies at the Catholic University of America, Washington D.C.  On 15 June 1967 Fr. O’Neill was appointed Assistant Chancellor, Diocese of Cleveland and assigned to serve as Parochial Vicar of St. Paul Parish, Euclid. On 12 October 1967 he was assigned Parochial Vicar of the Cathedral of Saint John the Evangelist. Fr. O’Neill was appointed Secretary of the Cleveland Diocesan Tribunal on 2 October 1968 and was assigned to serve as Parochial Vicar of St. Francis Parish, Cleveland. On 18 June 1969 he was appointed Defender of the Bond and Notary of the diocesan tribunal. Fr. O’Neill was appointed Vice-Officialis of the Tribunal of the Diocese of Cleveland on 1 October 1974.  On 9 February 1979 he was appointed Officialis of diocesan tribunal. Fr. O’Neill was named Pastor of St. Clare Parish, Lyndhurst on 7 April 1983. On 1 January 1993 Fr. O’Neill was appointed Adjunct Judicial Vicar and Presiding Judge of the Interdiocesan Appeal Court of the province of Cincinnati. On 1 July 1996 Fr. O’Neill was named Pastor of Our Lady of Grace Parish, Hinckley where he served until his retirement on 31 August 2010.

Fr. O’Neill will be especially remembered for his love of the Blessed Mother and his prayerful life.

The wake will begin on Sunday, July 17, 2022 with Vespers at 3:00 PM in St. Clare Catholic Church, 5659 Mayfield Rd, Lyndhurst, Ohio 44124 and will continue until 7:00 PM.  Bishop Martin Amos will preside and Fr. Richard Gonser will be the homilist.

Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday, July 18, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. in St. Clare Church. Bishop-Elect Michael Woost will be the main celebrant and Fr. Allan Laubenthal will be the homilist.

Interment All Souls Cemetery.

Arrangements entrusted to THE DeJOHN-FLYNN-MYLOTT FUNERAL HOME OF SOUTH EUCLID.