Condolences
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Joe Kuhn posted a condolence
Tuesday, November 15, 2022
Father Condon lived in a trailer down the road from us before the home was built for him to live in and serve at St. Raphael's Church. He'd drive by our farm and stop in when we had a fire going in the back yard. I remember him dearly for his songs and happy attitude so many others have known him for.
I remember when some of us would get in trouble in school and we'd get sent down to Father Condon's office. That was the easy part as he wasn't very hard on us, but from what I remember, we learned to not do that again, whatever it was we did wrong. He was fair in his responses to our misbehavior, always.
I also remember if you were the only one doing confession with him, he'd offer to sit and chat afterwards in a pew in the back of the church. What a guy. Thank you Father Condon for being such a loving model to us all.
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Deacon Mike Hagan posted a condolence
Monday, August 28, 2017
Fr. Bill has had an impact on my life from the day I was born to today. There was a question before my mother gave birth to my twin sister and I who would make it that day. So Fr. Bill was with my dad in the waiting room ready to baptize us if we needed the Sacrament. So you see Fr. Bill has been there for me when I needed him. I remember him coming to NJ and we would have mass around the dining room table. The Mass could take as long as 2 hours. Fr. Bill would ask each one of us at the table what we thought of the reading and how that should change our lives. Fr. Bill celebrated my wedding and is one of many reasons I am now a Deacon in the Church and I am so grateful that you have always been there for me. I am sorry that I fell out of contact with him, but no more the a few days go by without me thinking of you. MY God bless you and may you be in His Kingdom today. Deacon Mike Hagan
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The family of Rev. William Francis Condon uploaded a photo
Tuesday, June 27, 2017
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Tom Meuser posted a condolence
Friday, December 2, 2016
I recently went to look up Fr. Bill when the Cubs finally made it all the way. Sadly I learned he could not be with us to celebrate, but there is no doubt in my mind he helped make it happen!
I have known Fr. Bill for 40 years, first through my parents marriage at St. Raphael's and the years he spent working with Anne; and then the frequent visits to our home. Fr. Bill then presided at our wedding at St. Thomas years later.
As a young person, Fr. Bill changed my image of a priest: He was so approachable, so positive and so genuinely interested in every person he met. I am so lucky to have known him, and will always think of him as the weather warms each spring...
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Richard Barnett posted a condolence
Friday, October 7, 2016
It is with great sadness that I learned of Fr. Bill's passing. I will remember him as a truly unique and wonderful priest, boss and friend. It is doubly sad that he won't be around to enjoy the Cubs winning the World Series this year!
My condolences to his numerous family members and friends.
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Valerie & Ed O'Brien posted a condolence
Thursday, August 11, 2016
Our deepest sympathy to the family of Fr Bill. We met him at St Dominic's church & he
not only was our priest who said Sunday masses but became our true & dear friend. He spent many visits/sleepovers at our home & created great memories for us that we will always cherish. Fr. Bill, you are so missed.
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louise grobl posted a condolence
Sunday, August 7, 2016
Father Condon's passing was announced at SSPP this morning. I am sorry I missed the services at St. Raphael's.. The obituary was so accurate! "Neither arrogant nor prideful" were excellent descriptors. My sincere condolences to all his family.
Louise GroblF
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Rhonda Steinkamp Dougherty posted a condolence
Friday, August 5, 2016
I believe much of who I am today is because of St. Raphaels church. It had the biggest impact on me of anything in my life. Because of REC (Raphaels Encounters Christ), I was involved in (and even paid) Youth Ministry for over 20 years. Fr. John Powell's SJ talk at St. Raphael in 1976 steered me into Pro-Life work for the last 40 years. Fr. Condon led a very vibrant, alive church that inspired every age. In fact, 13 moves and churches later, I would have to say I have never found a church like it. Thank you Father for doing whatever it was that you did to give us such a beautiful faith community. Thank you for inspiring us to go forth and bring that spirit to other churches.
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Paulette Penner posted a condolence
Tuesday, August 2, 2016
I knew Bill in the 1970's where he encouraged developing community through his progressive thoughts, ideas, and incredible intellect at St. Raphael's. His leadership created forward thinking parish activities that became the foundation to my own adult spiritual and personal growth and development. I am stronger in my faith today because of him and I will NEVER forget the powerful impact he has had in my life. HE MADE A DIFFERENCE! His influence brought me to a better understanding how to live out my faith and how to have a personal relationship with God. I will always remember him as a great spiritual teacher and leader that laid the foundation to live a Spirit Filled Life.
My most heartfelt sympathy to his family and close friends.
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Ed and Barbara Lucas posted a condolence
Tuesday, August 2, 2016
Fr. Bill was special to us as a family and a saving grace to our parish,The Church of the Redeemer in Mechanicsville, VA. He came to Redeemer in 1981 as our third pastor in our first five years as a parish. Our parish community was in a deep financial and emotional crisis when he arrived. Fr. Bill shared his positive attitude and "you can do it" with us. He empowered us to move forward and showed us how to do it. He wrote to his friends & relatives to asked for their financial help to aid our parish. We will be forever grateful to all those individuals & families who lent a financial hand to us, so that we did not have a financial collapse. Our Redeemer Community is now a thriving faith parish of 1295 families and financially stable. We are known in our Mechanicsville community as a caring parish and of our outreach to those in need. All of this due to the Holy Spirit guiding Fr. Bill to share his love & wisdom with us. As time has gone by, Fr. Bill has written to many of us asking that we help out other struggling parishes. Of course, we gladly paid it forward. He had kept in contact with many of us, especially with his wonderful Christmas letters. We remember his inspirational homilies and his loving bear hugs. He kept us laughing with his great sense of humor. May he now rest in peace in God's loving arms. We will be with his family & friends in spirit on Friday, August 5th, when you have a celebration of his life. We wish we could be there.That will also be our 49th wedding anniversary. Ed & Barbara Lucas
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Sam and Judi Hamilton posted a condolence
Monday, August 1, 2016
To the Condon family:
We extend our most heartfelt condolences during this sad time of the passing of Fr. Bill and we extend our gratitude for having Fr. Bill play an important part in our lives for these many years. His memory and his love will be cherished forever.
It was toward the end of my second tour at a remote base camp in Viet Nam that a young circuit riding priest invited me to in his celebration of the Mass. As the celebration of communion began, I moved to the rear of the gathering knowing that non-Catholics did not participate in the Eucharist but that young priest said ‘please, come join us. Everyone is welcomed at my table”. Fast forward several years Fr. Bill entered our lives and became not only our pastor but our friend, our confidant, and our comforter. When we witnessed the theology of Bill Condon, I came to understand and appreciate the intent and motivation of the theology of that young priest many years previous in Viet Nam. We will miss Fr. Bill’s annual Christmas letter, his many visits to our home, and his celebration of the Holy Eucharist in our home with cherished friends, and our visits to the Rare Ol’ Times in Richmond where Cindy would celebrate Fr. Bill’s presence with her rendering of “Danny Boy.” Fr. Bill offered his prayers and support through difficult family times and through times when I believed in Fr. Bill’s belief that it was indeed the people's church and as a result, I was told I was no longer welcomed on parish property and threatened with arrest. Fr. Bill was there offering prayer, solace, and comfort.
While I am no longer a participant in Catholic liturgy, both Judi and I continue to uphold all that is contained in Fr. Bill’s vision for the Church. We surely miss him.
With kind regards,
Sam and Judi Hamilton
Holly Ridge, NC
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John Bleattler uploaded photo(s)
Monday, August 1, 2016
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Father Condon saying Mass at Saint Ann Church in Colonial Heights, VA celebrating 60 years of Presthood.
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John Bleattler uploaded photo(s)
Monday, August 1, 2016
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Father Condon with friends at the Mass celebrating60 years as a priest.
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Edie and John Bleattler posted a condolence
Monday, August 1, 2016
Our hearts are heavy with the loss of a great Priest and friend. I know he loved us all at St. Ann Catholic Church in Chesterfield, VA and we all loved him. We were sad to see him leave us but happy he was retireing so he could enjoy his life with Christ. Now we know he is the happiest being with God our Lord and Savor.
As I sit here crying because of our loss, I still remember all the wonderful times we spent together. Fr. Bill renewed our vowels for John and I for our 25th Anniversary and afterwards attending our party at our home. Today is actually our 52 Anniversary. He was always fun to be with and made us all laugh. We enjoyed playing pinochle with him, going to Irish Pubs, Ice Hockey games and many other fun adventures with him and I can honestly say it was always an adventure. He was "always" there for us and listened to us all at St. Ann. We miss him dearly and our hearts and prayer go out to his family which he loved so very much. I know his impact on our lives will never be forgotten and neither will the memories of a wonderful priest and wonderful friend.
With Peace and Love
Edie and John Bleattler
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Albert Leering posted a condolence
Sunday, July 31, 2016
I don`t know if I can pay tribute about Bill in a few words because he was one of those people of integrity who comes into your life leaving a profound impression. I first met him as a young Dominican deacon giving a mission at St. Raphael's in the late 1970's and I have kept in touch with him ever since because he was to me, as he was to many others, a friend and a mentor.
The Second Vatican Council initiated by John XXIII ended in 1965 and left a refreshing "agorniamento" or open window attitude. He had taken this to heart. He was especially cognizant of the tradition of the early Fathers or patrology. By understanding the past he was a visionary, a man ahead of his time.
With the parish council he constructed a church building in the round because that's how he understood a community should be created. He took seriously the Council's paradigm of inverting the triangular, Church authority structure of the pope, cardinals and bishops so that the laity was on top with the clergy on the bottom serving "the people of God". To experience a eucharist led by Bill was to experience a celebration of life in word and song.
Bill was his own man in an institutional bureaucracy especially after Vatican II was no longer in vogue. I think he was able to survive because it came from an inner strength and conviction. Shortly after I met him he had gone through several months of therapy which deeply influenced his acceptance of himself and how he related to others. What he did well was to challenge you about your own truth. He never, ever was judgmental of anyone regardless of Church doctrine. His acceptance of humanity made him love life and people by enjoying life's simple pleasures in games, sports, casinos, camping, etc.
I had the wonderful experience of several times going camping with Bill and a parish group in the wilds of Quetico Park in northern Ontario. There are numerous, marvellous stories I could relate about that. He was always reflective and shared his insights, often with a lot of humour. To be with Bill was often to experience small miracles about the vicissitudes of life.
I have since left the priesthood, received a dispensation to marry and have been working with seniors as a social worker in Vancouver, B.C. I retired last year.
To me Bill was a gentle man with conviction and at peace with himself. He touched the lives of thousands of people in his long, fruitful ministry, loving and being loved. There is much about Bill which I don't know so his celebration of life this week should be quite an event. I last spoke with him several months ago when he didn't say much about his deteriorating condition. In June I sent him a special father's day card appreciating his paternal role as a friend and mentor. The other night when I looked at the stars I could feel his spirit in the gentle breeze and was grateful for one who so honestly lived what he believed. Bill will be missed by so many in so many ways for his gifts of wisdom, compassion and laughter.
Albert Leering, July 31/16 in Vancouver, B.C. (galberto@shaw.ca)
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Ellen Cooney hurley posted a condolence
Sunday, July 31, 2016
To father bill's family... I'm sorry for your loss. Father bill was an integral part of my childhood. I will never forget him.
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Ron & Barbara Garavalia posted a condolence
Sunday, July 31, 2016
What does anyone say when their life's favorite priest returns to the Lord, our God?
We love you father Bill and always will. You made such an impact on our lives. Pray for us.
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Roger L. Tangeman posted a condolence
Sunday, July 31, 2016
Fr. Bill's Family
I was never so readily "adopted" into a family, as I was by Fr. Bill when we moved to Naperville in 1973. I was not an official Roman Catholic when Fr. Bill asked me to serve on the Liturgy Committee (with the wonderful Anne Sulga); but that was quickly taken care of. He was my sponsor into the Cursillio and I will never forget his self-introduction to weekend group: " I am Bill Condon, Father of 5200 and I live at St. Raphaels. He was also my canoe partner on one of the St. Raphael canoe trips to Quetico Provincial Park, on the Canadian side of the Minnesota Boundary Waters; as well as my roommate at the Wabasha (MN) hotel -- setting for "Grumpy Old Men." Thanks to your family for sharing Fr. Bill with me over the last 43 years -- the memories will never fade, nor will Fr. Bill's super homilies AND his singing (especially "Archibald Ashholder" and "Send in the Clowns." The "Sunday Morning Breakfasts at the Rectory" which he allowed us to host were also quite a treat!
See you again when the time is right,
Roger Tangeman
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Sister Rita Schilling, ASC posted a condolence
Sunday, July 31, 2016
In the rising of the sun and in it's going down, we remember Bill.
When we are weary and in need of strength, we remember him.
En er are lost nd sick at heart, we remember him.when we have joys we yearn to share, we remember him.
So long as we live, they too shall live, for they are now a part of us ,as we remember him.
In the blowing of the wind and in the chill of winter, we remember him.
In the opening of buds and in the rebirth of spring, we remember him.
In the blueness of the sky and in the warmth of summer, we remember him.
In the restyling of leaves and in the beauty of autumn, we remember him,
And in the beginning of the year and when it ends,... We remember Fr. Bill.
The memories I hold closest to my heart will never leave. They live on in the the years I ministered
at St. Raphael's with Fr. Bill and through the many years after. He was truly mentor and friend to many.
May he truly enjoy the BLISS he is now experiencing.
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William Hickey posted a condolence
Sunday, July 31, 2016
Father Condon was one of the greatest men I have ever known. Every homily he gave was a gem of insight and love. In my mind he is a saint of the first order. How lucky we were to have known him.
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John Hinsberger posted a condolence
Sunday, July 31, 2016
Father Condon was a great friend of the Hinsbergers. I can remember him coming over to dinner at our house. My mom, Mary Hinsberger, was one of the original members of the St. Raphael parish. We were always involved in decorating the church during the holidays. Father Condon had his face printed on the fake money used in the Casino nights. What fun events. I was an alter boy at Raphael and served mass for him often.
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Tony and Judy Lavarda posted a condolence
Sunday, July 31, 2016
Thank you for the marvelous gift of your life and ministry in our lives, Fr Bill. Regrettably, too short. We love you, will remember you always, and will keep the flame of your leadership alive in our hearts.
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Laurie Hartmann Orr lit a candle
Saturday, July 30, 2016
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Father Bill so many great memories flood my mind as I reflect on my growing up years with you in my life. I am saddened that you are gone from your earthly home; however, I know in my heart you are still with us spiritually; but, have gone Home to be with your Creator. May you Rest In Peace, Father Bill. I will love you always.
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