CHICOPEE – Rev. William C. Rousseau, 75, of Agawam, and formerly of Chicopee was Called Safely Home on Tuesday, March 12, 2024. He passed into Eternal Life at Mercy Medical Center in Springfield surrounded by his wonderful caregivers. He was born in Trenton, New Jersey on March 22, 1948, a beloved son of the late Howard W. and Josephine M. (Thompson) Rousseau. He was raised in Trenton, and received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Elementary Education and a Bachelor's Degree in Education of the Deaf from Trenton State College and later earned a Master’s Degree in Special Education. He taught multiply-handicapped children whose major handicap was deafness at the Flemington-Raritan Schools and the Midland School in New Jersey and for the Bucks County Intermediate Unit in Pennsylvania for a total of 20 years. He entered the seminary at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., completing Philosophy and First Theology. He moved to Massachusetts and completed his Theology studies at Saint Pope John XXIII in Weston, Massachusetts. Father Bill was ordained on July 1, 1995 at the Cathedral of Saint Michael the Archangel in Springfield by the late Most Rev. Thomas L. Dupre. He served at the former Saint Patrick Church in Chicopee, Saint Ann Church and Saint Vincent de Paul in Lenox. He was appointed Pastor of Saint Theresa and Saint Anthony Churches in Agawam which later became All Saints Parish in Agawam; and then was named Pastor of Saint Patrick Church in South Hadley. His last assignment was Pastor of Saint Anne Church in the Fairview section of Chicopee. He leaves his loving brother, David B. Rousseau and his wife, Kathy, of Knoxville, TN; his two cherished nieces, Danielle Wolcott and her husband, Adam, and their children, Austin and Mason, all of Chattanooga, TN; and Karen Rousseau Cole and her husband, Ben, and their daughter, Ella Grace, all of Knoxville, TN; his cherished nephew, David W. Rousseau and his wife, Tabatha, and their children, Koda, Elliana, and Everly, all of Maryville, TN; his three dear cousins, Linda Senf, Beth Thompson and Keith Thompson; and many dear parishioners, friends and extended family members. Father Bill will Lie in State at Saint Anne Church on Tuesday, March 19, 2024 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. followed by a Prayer Vigil Service at 6:00 p.m. A Concelebrated Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, March 20, 2024 at 11 a.m. at Saint Anne Church, 30 College Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. His burial will follow the Mass at Sainte Rose de Lima Cemetery, 49 Olsen Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. St. Pierre - Phaneuf Fairview Chapels, (413-533-3307), 506 Britton Street, Chicopee, MA 01020 has been entrusted with his arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Father Bill's memory to Saint Anne Church, 30 College Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. For more details and to leave his family condolence messages,