I looked at my marriage license hanging from my bedroom wall and noticed the signature of Fr. Hutchison. My wedding was in July of 2012. I looked up his name and saw he had passed. I’ve read his obituary and found out so much about him that I was unaware of. What a special man and what an honor it was to have him marry my wife and I in our little church in Fieldon, Il.  He gave a brief speech  at our reception and although I don’t recall what he said, it got a good laugh.  I still have his number in my phone. He said I could call him at anytime. I’m glad I got a chance to meet him.

Fr. bill Hutchison (or Hutch as he was known to many of his friends) was one of my closest and dearest friends at St. Louis U. High, and throughout our time in the Jesuits.   He was always filled with zeal for the work of God, particularly among the disadvantaged.   What Pope Francis today is urging priests to do, in terms of going out and helping people on the margins, Bill actually did for over the fifty years since we were ordained in 1966.   More than anyone I knew, he symbolized and lived out  that timeless exortation of St. Ignatius: “Go and set the world ablaze!”

Uncle Bill was the family priest. He was there for weddings, baptisms, First Communions. Sometimes he was a bit long winded with his homilies. But these special times wouldn’t have been the same without him. He loved family parties. He usually said the prayer before the family meals. One of the last times, he made us sing “America the Beautiful” on Thanksgiving as part of saying grace and everyone still talks about that. He was a great asset to the community establishing Northside Community Center . He was also dean of the St Louis University school of Social Work for a time.  He convinced me to get an MSW. Too bad I didn’t get to use it. But my husband is in the field. I think he was proud of both of us. I know he will be missed at family parties especially weddings where he loved to dance when he still could.  My pastor gave a homily that perfectly described Uncle Bill last weekend. He said it’s not about gaining prestige when we follow Christ.  It is about the LOVE. And with Uncle Bill it always was. And then our pastor said LOVE lives forever.  So will UB ,as we often called him, live on forever because he lived to love.  Rest In Peace Uncle Bill.

Jesuits of the Central and Southern Province

Visitation

Mass of Christian Burial

Joseph B. Hutchison

Theresa (nee: Haak) Hutchison

Joseph Hutchison

Raymond Hutchison

Louise Hutchison

Rita Hutchison

Robert Hutchison

He is preceded in death by his parents, Joseph B. Hutchison and Theresa Hutchison (nee Haak), brothers Joseph and Raymond Hutchison and sisters Louise and Rita Hutchison.  He is survived by his brother Robert Hutchison.

OBITUARY

Fr. William J. Hutchison SJ

21 March, 1935 – 19 October, 2018

Hoffmeister Colonial Mortuary

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