Activist Catholic Priest. Perhaps no other clergyman in history fought harder for social justice. Father Bill was arrested over 400 times in sit ins and protests. He served six months in a federal prison in 2002, fighting for another cause in which he belived. He was Senior Priest at St. Joseph The Worker Church in Berkley California. He died at his desk, writing his weekley homily.



WILLIAM J. O'DONNELL Father Bill O'Donnell passed away in Berkeley on December 8, 2003 at the age of 73. Native of Livermore, California. Beloved son of the late Anthony and Maude O'Donnell. Dear brother of Edward, Mary, James and the late Martin, Eugene, and Betty Anne O'Donnell (Sr. Anthony Edward SNJM). Loving uncle to Jane, Steve, David, Matthew, Carol, Jeannie, Sean, Kevin, CeCe, Joe, Chrissy, Diane and Shannon O' Donnell. Father "Bill" resided at St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church in Berkeley as Pastor and as Associate Pastor for the past 30 years. He, a close friend of Cesar Chavez, worked with the United Farm Workers, Board Treasurer of San Carlos Foundation, Options Program, School of the Americas Watch, Labor Priest to the AFL/CIO, SEIU, Teamsters, and the Labor Counsel. Friends are invited to attend a Visitation on Thursday, December 11, 2003, 10 - 8:00 pm, Friday, December 12, 2003, 10-8:00 pm at Grant Miller - John Cox Mortuary, 2850 Telegraph Ave., Oakland, and Saturday, December 13, 10 - 6:00 pm at St. Joseph the Worker Church, 1640 Addison Street, Berkeley. A celebration of his life will be held on Sunday, December 14th, 4:00 PM at the Berkeley Community Theatre, Allston Way and Grove. A funeral mass will be celebrated on Monday, December 15th at St. Joseph the Worker Church at 10:30 AM. Interment St. Mary's Cemetery, Oakland.