Rev. Peter A. Williams

The Reverend Peter A. Williams, 68, of Syracuse is now at peace, having struggled for four years with increasingly debilitating dementia. He died in the early morning hours of Sunday, April 27, 2025. Father Pete was born June 12, 1956, the fifth child of the late Ed and Mary Williams of North Syracuse. He graduated from Cicero H.S. in 1974 where he was an honor student and played trombone with the award-winning Golden Eagles Marching Band. He studied at Binghamton University, earning a BA in English, graduating with honors in 1978. Peter began to follow his childhood calling to become a priest by studying philosophy at LeMoyne College in 1978. From St. Mary’s Seminary and University in Baltimore MD, he earned a master's degree in sacred theology in 1982. On May 14, 1983, he was ordained as a priest of the Roman Catholic Church in Syracuse and began his service to the Lord. His first assignment was as Assistant Pastor at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Utica. From there he was Assistant Pastor at St. Lucy’s Parish, Syracuse, where a deaf parishioner asked him when he was going to get off his _ _ _ and learn sign language. He heeded that prodding and from 1988 to 1990 he took sign language classes at Onondaga Community College and Gallaudet University in Washington, DC. For 10 years, he then worked as the Director of the Catholic Deaf Ministry Office, while living at St. Mary Mount Carmel Parish, Utica. In 2001, he was assigned to be Assistant Pastor at St. Joseph “On the Hill”, Camillus and then Pastor at Holy Family-St. Michael’s Parish, Fulton while still working with Deaf and Spanish ministries. The latter after completing an Intensive Pastoral Spanish Program at the Mexican American Cultural Center in San Antonio, Texas. After a great deal of discernment, Peter heeded the call to become an Episcopal priest. On October 18, 2008, at Grace Episcopal Church, Syracuse he was received as a priest in the Episcopal Diocese of Central New York. His ministry to the deaf community continued in association with the Ephphatha Parish. He served as Rector of Grace & Holy Spirit Church, Cortland, a combined Episcopal and Lutheran congregation until his retirement in 2022. Peter is survived by his siblings: Charles Williams, Arlington VA; Bill (Karen) Williams, Jacksonville FL; Margaret Coker, Clifton Park, NY; Elizabeth Williams, Syracuse, NY and Richard (Mary) Williams, Hollis, NH. Also surviving are 10 nieces and nephews; and 14 great nieces and nephews. Calling hours will be on Monday, May 5, 2025, from 3 to 6 pm at Fergerson Funeral Home, 215 South Main Street, North Syracuse. The memorial service will be held on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, at 10 am at Grace Episcopal Church, 819 Madison Street, Syracuse, The Rt. Rev. Dr. DeDe Duncan-Probe officiating. The committal service will be at 2 pm in North Syracuse Cemetery, 555 South Bay Road, North Syracuse. Donations may be made, in lieu of flowers, to Cortland Loaves and Fishes, 13 Court Street, Cortland 13045 (cortlandloavesandfishes.org); In My Father's Kitchen, Avenue, Syracuse 13203 (inmyfatherskitchen.org); Grace Church Food Pantry, 819 Madison Street, Syracuse, 13210 (gracesyracuse.org); or St. Lucy's Food Pantry, 425 Gifford Street, Syracuse, 13204 (saintlucys.org).

Tributes

Rev. Peter A. Williams

April 27, 2025