Posted January 3, 2022

Father William P. Donnelly, a retired priest of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, died Dec. 15, 2021, at Villa St. Joseph, Darby. He was 85.

Son of the late William J. Donnelly and Mary J. Devlin of Philadelphia, he attended St. Laurence School in Upper Darby and West Philadelphia Catholic High School before entering St. Charles Borromeo Seminary.

Father Donnelly was ordained a priest May 16, 1964 at the Cathedral of SS. Peter and Paul by Archbishop John J. Krol.

Father Donnelly served as parochial vicar at St. Joseph Parish, Warrington; St. Clement Parish, Philadelphia; St. Philomena Parish, Lansdowne; St. Callistus Parish, Philadelphia; and St. Alice Parish, Upper Darby.

He also served on the faculty at Bishop McDevitt High School, Wyncote, and Cardinal Dougherty High School, Philadelphia.

Father Donnelly served as pastor of the former St. Alice Parish from 1992 to 2004; the parish closed in 2013. He retired from active ministry in 2005.

The funeral Mass was celebrated Dec. 22 at St. Andrew the Apostle Church, Drexel Hill. Archbishop Nelson J. Pérez was the main celebrant, and concelebrants included Fathers Dominic Tran Minh Duc, James F. Sullivan and Anthony J. Cossavella, and Msgr. Albin J. Grous, who was the homilist.

Father Donnelly is survived by his brother Francis (Ann), and several nieces and nephews.  Interment was at Holy Cross Cemetery in Yeadon.