Royal Oak — Msgr. William Henry Easton, pastor of the National Shrine of the Little Flower Parish in Royal Oak, has died at the age of 69.
Msgr. Easton, who was hospitalized Dec. 20 for a cardiac issue and subsequent fall, died Dec. 29. He will be fondly remembered as pastor for 17 years of one of the Archdiocese of Detroit's largest and most prominent parishes, with 3,500 families.
Msgr. Easton will lie in state at the parish — at Woodward and 12 Mile — from 1-9 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 2. A funeral Mass will be celebrated there at 11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 3. A memorial rosary service was to be held at 8 p.m. Monday, Dec. 30.
Msgr. William Easton
Shortly after news of his passing had been published, scores of friends, parishioners and others expressed their warm thoughts and prayers online.
"I have known Fr. Bill since he was a young priest just out of the seminary," said Penny Frailey Carolin. "He was assigned to St. Mary's parish in Royal Oak. As was popular in the early 70s, he wore his blond hair past his shoulders and was immediately a favorite in the parish.
"Fr. Bill was humorous, hard-working and very humble. The people of Shrine parish and those of us who knew him from long ago will miss him very much!"
Jennifer Gross recalled Msgr. Easton's uncanny ability to bring the Gospel to life. "To this day, whenever I hear ‘Amen, amen I say to you,' I think of Msgr. Easton. He was a tremendous homilist, a wonderful pastor, and a very funny, genuine guy," Gross said.
It was shortly after Msgr. Easton took over as the Royal Oak parish's pastor that it was designated a national shrine by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in 1998, one of only five in the country. It is dedicated to St. Therese of Lisieux, also known as the Little Flower.
A longtime servant of the Church in many different capacities, Msgr. Easton will also be remembered for his organizational work in helping bring about the first and only papal visit to Detroit, when Pope John Paul II stopped here in 1987 as part of a U.S. trip. Msgr. Easton served as principal site director for the pope's historic Mass at the Pontiac Silverdome.
One of six children, William Henry Easton was born in Detroit in 1944 to William and Shirley Easton, and was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Detroit on June 14, 1970. He earned degrees from Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit and St. John's Provincial Seminary in Plymouth and celebrated his first Mass at St. Louis Parish in Mount Clemens.
A priest for 43 years, then-Fr. Easton began his ministry as associate pastor of St. Mary Parish in Royal Oak in 1970. He became co-pastor of that parish in 1972 before being assigned as pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Pontiac in 1975, where he served for 14 years. From 1986-89 he also served as administrator of nearby Shrine Parish of St. Joseph in Pontiac.
In 1988, Fr. Easton began a period of service at Sacred Heart Major Seminary, becoming its director of formation before moving into full-time service there as vice rector in 1989.
Three years after helping direct the pope's historic visit in 1987, Fr. Easton was awarded the title of "monsignor" by Pope John Paul II. Msgr. Easton was designated the more rare title of "honorary prelate" — the second of three ranks of monsignor.
In 1996, Msgr. Easton was named pastor of Royal Oak's Shrine of the Little Flower Parish, where he served until his death.
Throughout his priestly ministry, Msgr. Easton also served the Archdiocese of Detroit in other capacities. He served as vicar of the Old Pontiac Area Vicariate from 1978-84, vicar of the Southeast Oakland Vicariate and Birmingham-Bloomfield-Troy Vicariate from 2009-12.
In 1987, he became a member of the archdiocesan College of Consultors, a key advisory body to the archbishop of Detroit. He also served as chairman of the archdiocesan Presbyteral Council, a group of priests tasked with advising the archbishop, from 2009-12.
Msgr. Easton also served as the point person for episcopal consecration ceremonies in the Archdiocese of Detroit, and served on the board of trustees for Madonna University in Livonia and the state of Michigan's Children's Trust Fund. He was also chaplain of the Royal Oak Police Department.
He is preceded in death by his father, William; and two brothers, Robert and Donald.
Interment will be in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Southfield. Memorial tributes may be made to Sacred Heart Major Seminary, 2701 Chicago Blvd., Detroit, MI 48206; the American Cancer Society, 20450 Civic Center Drive, Southfield, MI 48076; or any of the parishes Msgr. Easton served throughout his lifetime.
Msgr. Easton, who was hospitalized Dec. 20 for a cardiac issue and subsequent fall, died Dec. 29. He will be fondly remembered as pastor for 17 years of one of the Archdiocese of Detroit's largest and most prominent parishes, with 3,500 families.
Msgr. Easton will lie in state at the parish — at Woodward and 12 Mile — from 1-9 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 2. A funeral Mass will be celebrated there at 11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 3. A memorial rosary service was to be held at 8 p.m. Monday, Dec. 30.
Msgr. William Easton
Shortly after news of his passing had been published, scores of friends, parishioners and others expressed their warm thoughts and prayers online.
"I have known Fr. Bill since he was a young priest just out of the seminary," said Penny Frailey Carolin. "He was assigned to St. Mary's parish in Royal Oak. As was popular in the early 70s, he wore his blond hair past his shoulders and was immediately a favorite in the parish.
"Fr. Bill was humorous, hard-working and very humble. The people of Shrine parish and those of us who knew him from long ago will miss him very much!"
Jennifer Gross recalled Msgr. Easton's uncanny ability to bring the Gospel to life. "To this day, whenever I hear ‘Amen, amen I say to you,' I think of Msgr. Easton. He was a tremendous homilist, a wonderful pastor, and a very funny, genuine guy," Gross said.
It was shortly after Msgr. Easton took over as the Royal Oak parish's pastor that it was designated a national shrine by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in 1998, one of only five in the country. It is dedicated to St. Therese of Lisieux, also known as the Little Flower.
A longtime servant of the Church in many different capacities, Msgr. Easton will also be remembered for his organizational work in helping bring about the first and only papal visit to Detroit, when Pope John Paul II stopped here in 1987 as part of a U.S. trip. Msgr. Easton served as principal site director for the pope's historic Mass at the Pontiac Silverdome.
One of six children, William Henry Easton was born in Detroit in 1944 to William and Shirley Easton, and was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Detroit on June 14, 1970. He earned degrees from Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit and St. John's Provincial Seminary in Plymouth and celebrated his first Mass at St. Louis Parish in Mount Clemens.
A priest for 43 years, then-Fr. Easton began his ministry as associate pastor of St. Mary Parish in Royal Oak in 1970. He became co-pastor of that parish in 1972 before being assigned as pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Pontiac in 1975, where he served for 14 years. From 1986-89 he also served as administrator of nearby Shrine Parish of St. Joseph in Pontiac.
In 1988, Fr. Easton began a period of service at Sacred Heart Major Seminary, becoming its director of formation before moving into full-time service there as vice rector in 1989.
Three years after helping direct the pope's historic visit in 1987, Fr. Easton was awarded the title of "monsignor" by Pope John Paul II. Msgr. Easton was designated the more rare title of "honorary prelate" — the second of three ranks of monsignor.
In 1996, Msgr. Easton was named pastor of Royal Oak's Shrine of the Little Flower Parish, where he served until his death.
Throughout his priestly ministry, Msgr. Easton also served the Archdiocese of Detroit in other capacities. He served as vicar of the Old Pontiac Area Vicariate from 1978-84, vicar of the Southeast Oakland Vicariate and Birmingham-Bloomfield-Troy Vicariate from 2009-12.
In 1987, he became a member of the archdiocesan College of Consultors, a key advisory body to the archbishop of Detroit. He also served as chairman of the archdiocesan Presbyteral Council, a group of priests tasked with advising the archbishop, from 2009-12.
Msgr. Easton also served as the point person for episcopal consecration ceremonies in the Archdiocese of Detroit, and served on the board of trustees for Madonna University in Livonia and the state of Michigan's Children's Trust Fund. He was also chaplain of the Royal Oak Police Department.
He is preceded in death by his father, William; and two brothers, Robert and Donald.
Interment will be in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Southfield. Memorial tributes may be made to Sacred Heart Major Seminary, 2701 Chicago Blvd., Detroit, MI 48206; the American Cancer Society, 20450 Civic Center Drive, Southfield, MI 48076; or any of the parishes Msgr. Easton served throughout his lifetime.
Royal Oak — Msgr. William Henry Easton, pastor of the National Shrine of the Little Flower Parish in Royal Oak, has died at the age of 69.
Msgr. Easton, who was hospitalized Dec. 20 for a cardiac issue and subsequent fall, died Dec. 29. He will be fondly remembered as pastor for 17 years of one of the Archdiocese of Detroit's largest and most prominent parishes, with 3,500 families.
Msgr. Easton will lie in state at the parish — at Woodward and 12 Mile — from 1-9 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 2. A funeral Mass will be celebrated there at 11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 3. A memorial rosary service was to be held at 8 p.m. Monday, Dec. 30.
Msgr. William Easton
Shortly after news of his passing had been published, scores of friends, parishioners and others expressed their warm thoughts and prayers online.
"I have known Fr. Bill since he was a young priest just out of the seminary," said Penny Frailey Carolin. "He was assigned to St. Mary's parish in Royal Oak. As was popular in the early 70s, he wore his blond hair past his shoulders and was immediately a favorite in the parish.
"Fr. Bill was humorous, hard-working and very humble. The people of Shrine parish and those of us who knew him from long ago will miss him very much!"
Jennifer Gross recalled Msgr. Easton's uncanny ability to bring the Gospel to life. "To this day, whenever I hear ‘Amen, amen I say to you,' I think of Msgr. Easton. He was a tremendous homilist, a wonderful pastor, and a very funny, genuine guy," Gross said.
It was shortly after Msgr. Easton took over as the Royal Oak parish's pastor that it was designated a national shrine by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in 1998, one of only five in the country. It is dedicated to St. Therese of Lisieux, also known as the Little Flower.
A longtime servant of the Church in many different capacities, Msgr. Easton will also be remembered for his organizational work in helping bring about the first and only papal visit to Detroit, when Pope John Paul II stopped here in 1987 as part of a U.S. trip. Msgr. Easton served as principal site director for the pope's historic Mass at the Pontiac Silverdome.
One of six children, William Henry Easton was born in Detroit in 1944 to William and Shirley Easton, and was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Detroit on June 14, 1970. He earned degrees from Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit and St. John's Provincial Seminary in Plymouth and celebrated his first Mass at St. Louis Parish in Mount Clemens.
A priest for 43 years, then-Fr. Easton began his ministry as associate pastor of St. Mary Parish in Royal Oak in 1970. He became co-pastor of that parish in 1972 before being assigned as pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Pontiac in 1975, where he served for 14 years. From 1986-89 he also served as administrator of nearby Shrine Parish of St. Joseph in Pontiac.
In 1988, Fr. Easton began a period of service at Sacred Heart Major Seminary, becoming its director of formation before moving into full-time service there as vice rector in 1989.
Three years after helping direct the pope's historic visit in 1987, Fr. Easton was awarded the title of "monsignor" by Pope John Paul II. Msgr. Easton was designated the more rare title of "honorary prelate" — the second of three ranks of monsignor.
In 1996, Msgr. Easton was named pastor of Royal Oak's Shrine of the Little Flower Parish, where he served until his death.
Throughout his priestly ministry, Msgr. Easton also served the Archdiocese of Detroit in other capacities. He served as vicar of the Old Pontiac Area Vicariate from 1978-84, vicar of the Southeast Oakland Vicariate and Birmingham-Bloomfield-Troy Vicariate from 2009-12.
In 1987, he became a member of the archdiocesan College of Consultors, a key advisory body to the archbishop of Detroit. He also served as chairman of the archdiocesan Presbyteral Council, a group of priests tasked with advising the archbishop, from 2009-12.
Msgr. Easton also served as the point person for episcopal consecration ceremonies in the Archdiocese of Detroit, and served on the board of trustees for Madonna University in Livonia and the state of Michigan's Children's Trust Fund. He was also chaplain of the Royal Oak Police Department.
He is preceded in death by his father, William; and two brothers, Robert and Donald.
Interment will be in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Southfield. Memorial tributes may be made to Sacred Heart Major Seminary, 2701 Chicago Blvd., Detroit, MI 48206; the American Cancer Society, 20450 Civic Center Drive, Southfield, MI 48076; or any of the parishes Msgr. Easton served throughout his lifetime.
Msgr. Easton, who was hospitalized Dec. 20 for a cardiac issue and subsequent fall, died Dec. 29. He will be fondly remembered as pastor for 17 years of one of the Archdiocese of Detroit's largest and most prominent parishes, with 3,500 families.
Msgr. Easton will lie in state at the parish — at Woodward and 12 Mile — from 1-9 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 2. A funeral Mass will be celebrated there at 11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 3. A memorial rosary service was to be held at 8 p.m. Monday, Dec. 30.
Msgr. William Easton
Shortly after news of his passing had been published, scores of friends, parishioners and others expressed their warm thoughts and prayers online.
"I have known Fr. Bill since he was a young priest just out of the seminary," said Penny Frailey Carolin. "He was assigned to St. Mary's parish in Royal Oak. As was popular in the early 70s, he wore his blond hair past his shoulders and was immediately a favorite in the parish.
"Fr. Bill was humorous, hard-working and very humble. The people of Shrine parish and those of us who knew him from long ago will miss him very much!"
Jennifer Gross recalled Msgr. Easton's uncanny ability to bring the Gospel to life. "To this day, whenever I hear ‘Amen, amen I say to you,' I think of Msgr. Easton. He was a tremendous homilist, a wonderful pastor, and a very funny, genuine guy," Gross said.
It was shortly after Msgr. Easton took over as the Royal Oak parish's pastor that it was designated a national shrine by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in 1998, one of only five in the country. It is dedicated to St. Therese of Lisieux, also known as the Little Flower.
A longtime servant of the Church in many different capacities, Msgr. Easton will also be remembered for his organizational work in helping bring about the first and only papal visit to Detroit, when Pope John Paul II stopped here in 1987 as part of a U.S. trip. Msgr. Easton served as principal site director for the pope's historic Mass at the Pontiac Silverdome.
One of six children, William Henry Easton was born in Detroit in 1944 to William and Shirley Easton, and was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Detroit on June 14, 1970. He earned degrees from Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit and St. John's Provincial Seminary in Plymouth and celebrated his first Mass at St. Louis Parish in Mount Clemens.
A priest for 43 years, then-Fr. Easton began his ministry as associate pastor of St. Mary Parish in Royal Oak in 1970. He became co-pastor of that parish in 1972 before being assigned as pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Pontiac in 1975, where he served for 14 years. From 1986-89 he also served as administrator of nearby Shrine Parish of St. Joseph in Pontiac.
In 1988, Fr. Easton began a period of service at Sacred Heart Major Seminary, becoming its director of formation before moving into full-time service there as vice rector in 1989.
Three years after helping direct the pope's historic visit in 1987, Fr. Easton was awarded the title of "monsignor" by Pope John Paul II. Msgr. Easton was designated the more rare title of "honorary prelate" — the second of three ranks of monsignor.
In 1996, Msgr. Easton was named pastor of Royal Oak's Shrine of the Little Flower Parish, where he served until his death.
Throughout his priestly ministry, Msgr. Easton also served the Archdiocese of Detroit in other capacities. He served as vicar of the Old Pontiac Area Vicariate from 1978-84, vicar of the Southeast Oakland Vicariate and Birmingham-Bloomfield-Troy Vicariate from 2009-12.
In 1987, he became a member of the archdiocesan College of Consultors, a key advisory body to the archbishop of Detroit. He also served as chairman of the archdiocesan Presbyteral Council, a group of priests tasked with advising the archbishop, from 2009-12.
Msgr. Easton also served as the point person for episcopal consecration ceremonies in the Archdiocese of Detroit, and served on the board of trustees for Madonna University in Livonia and the state of Michigan's Children's Trust Fund. He was also chaplain of the Royal Oak Police Department.
He is preceded in death by his father, William; and two brothers, Robert and Donald.
Interment will be in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Southfield. Memorial tributes may be made to Sacred Heart Major Seminary, 2701 Chicago Blvd., Detroit, MI 48206; the American Cancer Society, 20450 Civic Center Drive, Southfield, MI 48076; or any of the parishes Msgr. Easton served throughout his lifetime.
