Fr. John (Jack) Willett, C.Ss.R., 1935-2020
Please pray for the repose of the soul of beloved Fr. John (Jack) Willett, C.Ss.R., who died on August 15, 2020 at St. Clement Redemptorist Mission Community in Liguori. He was 84, and had recently been placed in hospice care. Fr. Jack served for six years on the Mission Preaching team based here at St. Al's from 1990-1996. We will be having a memorial mass at St. Alphonsus on Saturday, August 29, the mass time will be announced soon.
Obituary
John Ferdinand Willett was born on October 18, 1935 to Ferdinand and Ellen (Donahue) Willett in Sault Sainte Marie, MI. He entered the Redemptorist formation program at St. Joseph Preparatory College in Kirkwood, MO and professed temporary vows as a Redemptorist on August 2, 1956. He made his final profession of vows on September 2, 1959 and was ordained to the priesthood on June 29, 1961 at Immaculate Conception Seminary in Oconomowoc, WI.
Newly ordained Father Willett served at St. Gerard Majella Parish in Kirkwood, MO and earned an English degree from St. Louis University before entering formation ministry in 1964. He joined the faculty of St. Joseph’s Preparatory College in Edgerton, WI and was appointed Assistant to the Director of Students. Father Willett taught English and Guidance, and coached soccer and basketball. Before his assignment ended in 1975, he had earned a Master’s in Education/Guidance and Counseling from St. Louis University.
Father Willett continued mentoring students at Holy Redeemer College in Waterford, WI from 1978 until 1984. He served as Director of Athletics and Prefect of Students, and a professor of English, Religion and Guidance. He maintained lifelong friendships with students, and officiated at many weddings of those who left the Redemptorist formation program.
Twenty years later, Father Willett was missioned to Nigeria to oversee the Redemptorist formation program. After a year of enculturation serving at a parish, he was appointed director of Redeemer House in Bodija, Ibadan (1997-1984).
Father Willett also served for six years on the Mission Preaching team based in Grand Rapids, MI (1990-1996), and devoted more than two decades to parish ministry. He served as pastor of St. Alphonsus Parish in Chicago, IL (1975-1978 and 1984-1990) and St. Joseph Parish in Wichita, KS (2001-2005) before he joined the Redemptorist community at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Redemptorist Parish in Kansas City, MO in 2005. During his tenure, he helped administer Our Lady of Sorrows Parish. Health issues necessitated his retirement and move to St. Clement’s in Liguori in 2014.
Private Funeral Arrangements
Friday, August 21, 2020
Livestream: https://www.facebook.com/paul.yasenak
Rosary at 3:00 pm
Vigil (Wake) at 7:00 pm
Saturday, August 22, 2020
Livestream: https://www.facebook.com/paul.yasenak
Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 am, followed by Burial at Liguori Cemetery
Condolences
Condolences may be sent directly to Fr. Jack’s sister:
Marleen Sullivan
Care of Tricia Schetz
4911 Meadow Spring Trl
Ada, MI 49301