Full Text of SR0270 102nd General Assembly
SR0270 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY |
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| 1 | | SENATE RESOLUTION
| 2 | | WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened | 3 | | to learn of the death of Monsignor William A. Watson of Odell, | 4 | | who passed away on April 27, 2021; and
| 5 | | WHEREAS, Monsignor Watson was born to Jarlath M. and | 6 | | Lucille M. (Johnson) Watson in Pontiac on March 9, 1936; he | 7 | | graduated from St. Paul High School in 1954; he attended St. | 8 | | Bede Prep Seminary in Peru, Illinois for two years and | 9 | | graduated from St. Mary of the Lake Seminary in Mundelein in | 10 | | 1962; he was ordained by Bishop John B. Franz in Peoria in June | 11 | | of 1962; and
| 12 | | WHEREAS, Monsignor Watson's first parish assignment was at | 13 | | St. Joseph Catholic Church in Rock Island; there, he served as | 14 | | parochial vicar under Father Frank Casey; in 1969, he was | 15 | | assigned to St. John's Newman Center in Champaign where he | 16 | | assisted Monsignor Edward Duncan until 1981; at that time, he | 17 | | became pastor of St. Thomas the Apostle in Peoria Heights; he | 18 | | remained pastor there until receiving his senior status in | 19 | | 2015 and then retired to Odell; and
| 20 | | WHEREAS, Monsignor Watson embodied the true measure of a | 21 | | priest, and his commitment to people was the hallmark of his | 22 | | ministry; he was compassionate and kind and made a deep mark on |
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| 1 | | those who knew him; his gentle leadership attracted a vibrant | 2 | | and flourishing community of faith at St. Thomas, where he | 3 | | oversaw the addition of St. Thomas School, an enlarged worship | 4 | | space, and a new rectory; he will especially be remembered for | 5 | | his Irish wit and humor and for the love he had for family and | 6 | | friends; and
| 7 | | WHEREAS, Monsignor Watson was preceded in death by his | 8 | | brother-in-law, Bud Verdun; and | 9 | | WHEREAS, Monsignor Watson is survived by his one sister, | 10 | | Catherine (Bud) Verdun; his three brothers, John (Peg) Watson, | 11 | | Joe (Caroline) Watson, and Jim (Linda) Watson; his 16 nieces | 12 | | and nephews; and his 51 great-nieces and great-nephews; | 13 | | therefore, be it
| 14 | | RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL | 15 | | ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of | 16 | | Monsignor William A. Watson and extend our sincere condolences | 17 | | to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be | 18 | | it further
| 19 | | RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be | 20 | | presented to the family of Monsignor Watson as an expression | 21 | | of our deepest sympathy.
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