Father William C. McGarry

Father William C. McGarry, pastor emeritus of St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Niagara Falls, died on May 13, 2020, at the Our Lady of Peace Nursing Home in Lewiston.

Born in Carnegie, Pa., Father McGarry lived in Niagara Falls and graduated from Niagara University and Our Lady of Angels Seminary. He was ordained in 1959.

In his first year as a priest he served as assistant director of St. Vincent de Paul Camp and as an assistant at St. Joseph New Cathedral in Buffalo.

Later, Father McGarry served at Our Lady of the Rosary Parish, Niagara Falls, starting in 1964 and moved to St. Joseph Parish, North Tonawanda in 1968.

In 1971, Father McGarry became a military chaplain and went on to hold the rank of lieutenant colonel.

He took on the responsibilities as temporary administrator of St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Corfu, and St. Patrick, Crittenden, in 1991. In 1992, Father McGarry became pastor at Prince of Peace Parish in Niagara Falls. Later the parish would merge with St. Vincent de Paul and St. Leo parishes. He served the parish until his retirement in 2001.

A funeral Mass was held for Father McGarry at St Vincent de Paul Parish’s Prince of Peace
Worship Site in Niagara Falls and a public memorial will take place after the Covid-19 restrictions have been lifted.