Obituary of Rev. William A. Mesmer

Reverend William A. Mesmer died peacefully on December 11, 2024 at the Wynn Hospital in Utica, NY after a brief illness. It was June 4, 1941 when Bill was the first born child of Navy Seaman 1st Class William Mesmer and Doris (Doll) Wahl and later joined by sister, Karen and brother Paul. (His father was one of the Mesmer brothers of C.B.A. athletic fame.) Bill grew up on the North Side of Syracuse attending LeMoyne elementary school and a graduate of St. John the Baptist Academy where he was President of his senior class. Bill pursued his vocation to the priesthood by attending St. Andrew's Minor Seminary in Rochester and Christ The King Major Seminary at St. Bonaventure University in Olean, NY graduating in 1968 with a Master of Divinity Degree. The pursuit of his vocation to the priesthood of the Diocese of Syracuse culminated on May 18, 1968, when he was ordained by his parish pastor, Bishop David F. Cunningham. For the next 56 years he faithfully served the people of the Syracuse Diocese in many parishes including: St. Mary's, Cleveland; Holy Family, Fairmount and Fulton; St. Matthew's, East Syracuse; St. Vincent de Paul, Syracuse; Blessed Sacrament in Syracuse and Utica; Sacred Heart in Cicero. Father's first pastorate was Christ The King in Liverpool; followed by pastorates of St. Patrick's, Oneida; St. Helena's in Sherrill and lastly the joined parishes of St. Helena's and Holy Family in Vernon, retiring on 6/30/2020. After serving the Eastern Region of the Syracuse Diocese for 28 years, he resides in Oriskany, NY and his White Lake cottage with friends Father Fred Daley and Father John Buehler. Father Mesmer enjoyed the priesthood and was a very effective, loving, generous and kind pastor and eloquent preacher. Bill had a wonderful sense of humor and a warm welcoming smile for everyone. Father was well respected by his peers having been elected to serve on the priest's personnel board for 12 years and an equal number of years on the Presbyteral Council (Priests' Senate). Bill held the distinction of being the first associate pastor to be elected as chairman of the Presbyteral Council. As chairman of this group, he was invited to attend Pope St. John Paul's II group meeting of the USA's Bishop's and priests held in Florida. Bill is survived by his brother Paul and his wife Bibi and brother-in-law Joseph Cantwell and his wife Patty, nephew's Mark and Michael Cantwell and their families and many cousins. He was predeceased by his parents and his dear sister Karen Cantwell and many aunts and uncles. Services for Father Mesmer will include calling hours from 5:00 – 7:00 PM at St. Helena's Church in Sherrill on Tuesday, December 17th followed by a prayer service. His Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Helena's Church, Sherrill on Wednesday, December 18th at 10:30 AM with Bishop Douglas Lucia as Main Celebrant. The family will receive guests after the funeral liturgy. Donations in Bill's memory may be made to the Refugee Resettlement Program at All Saints Church, 1340 Lancaster Ave. Syracuse, NY 13210. Malecki Funeral Home has been entrusted with these funeral arrangements.