Rev. William T Haviland

The Rev. William T. Haviland, 80, priest of the Harrisburg Diocese, died February 22, 2017. 

He was born in Pittsburgh, PA on August 6, 1936 the son of the late Williams C. Haviland and Mary Agnes McCormick.  He was the second of five children

William attended High School and two years of college at Saint Charles College, Cantonsville, MD from 1950 to 1956.  He received two years of College and four years of theological seminary training at Saint Charles Borromeo, Overbrook, PA from 1956 to 1962.

William was ordained a priest, May 19, 1962, in Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, Harrisburg, PA by Bishop George L. Leech.

He served numerous assignments as assistant and chaplain with St. Patrick Church, York, PA, Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church, McSherrystown, PA, Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church, Lebanon, PA, Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Church, Harrisburg, PA, and Saint Matthew Church, Dauphin, PA, Saint Edward’s Church, Shamokin, PA and South Mountain Geriatric Rehabilitation Center, Mount Alto College.

He was pastor at Saint Francis Xavier Church, Gettysburg, PA, Assumption of the Blessed Mother Church, Lancaster, PA,  Saint Peter Church, Steelton and administrator of Saint John the Evangelist Church, Enhaut.  He also pastored the newly merged Church of Saint Michael the Archangel Church, Sunbury and the Saint Thomas More Church, Northumberland, PA into the new Church of Saint Monica. He was also the administrator of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, Lewisburg, PA and full time chaplain at the Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, PA.

In 1979 he represented the priest of the Diocese of Harrisburg as a concelebrant at the Mass of priests of the United States, offered by Pope Saint John Paul II in Philadelphia, PA

William retired in 2010 and lived at Queen of the Most Holy Rosary Church, Elysburg, PA until he took residence at the Bishop Datillo Retirement Center for priests.

While living in Mount Carmel, he played on the Star Lane Nylons Championship Baseball teams from 1950 to 52; he delivered both morning and evening paper, was the pin-boy at the Elks Bowling Lanes; and the bat boy for Elk’s men’s softball team.  He was a member of the Knights of Columbus since 1962 and a 4th Degree Knight since 1967.

Father Haviland is survived by his two sisters, Joyce Giovannoni of Union City, CA and Mary Clare Stinson of Middletown, PA; ten nephews and nieces, approximately twenty-two great nephews and nieces.

Father Haviland was preceded in death by his mother who died on his eleventh anniversary of his ordination, his father died August 7, 2006, his sister Cheryl Ann died September 7, 2009 and his brother John Jay died August 10, 2010.

Friends and family may visit the Saint Monica Church on Monday from 5 to 7 pm. with a vigil Mass at 7 pm.  On Tuesday, a viewing will be held from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm at the Queen of the Most Holy Rosary in Elysburg, PA. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 1 pm. with the Most Reverend Ronald Gainer, Bishop of Harrisburg presiding.  Interment will follow at All Saints Cemetery, Elysburg.

Arrangements are made by the David T. Zweier Funeral Home Inc., 157 Chestnut St. Sunbury, PA 17801.

Condolences may be made at davidzweierfuneralhome.com.

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