The Rev. William Sutliff Chant, 81, formerly of Moretown, passed away
during the early morning hours of Saturday, December 11, 2010, at his
home in Northfield Falls. He was born September 20, 1929, in Jamestown,
NY, the son of F. Raemond and Grace (Wadsworth) Chant of Randolph, NY.
He was predeceased by his loving wife, Patricia Brady Chant, in 1978, and by his brother, Ward W. Chant.
Bill graduated from public schools in Randolph, NY, and from St.
Bonaventure College in Olean, NY. He served in the U.S. Army during the
World War II era.
He married Patricia Brady on August 8, 1953, in Jamestown, NY.
He was a high school math teacher in his hometown and worked for the FBI
as a cryptologist before joining IBM, working as a programming engineer
at locations in Kingston, NY, Boulder, CO, and retiring from the Essex
Junction facility. Following his ordination as a deacon in the Catholic
Church and his retirement from IBM, he attended seminary at Mount St.
Mary's College, Emmitsburg, MD, and was ordained a priest, serving in
the Diocese of Burlington at parishes in Burlington, Brattleboro,
Richford and Williamstown.
Following retirement as an active priest, he traveled the length and
breadth of Vermont, filling in at parishes as a relief priest. Some of
his greatest joy was found behind the wheel of his car, driving tens of
thousands of miles each year, both in his priestly duties and for his
own enjoyment and discovery. He held a pilot's license for most of his
life, giving it up following a plane crash in southeast Pennsylvania
during the 1980s.
Bill is survived by his longtime friend, Elizabeth Lower, and her
family. He also leaves a brother, Robert. R. Chant of St. Peters, MO;
four sons, Stephen J. Chant of Colchester, Paul W. Chant of Chocorua,
NH, Daniel P. Chant of South Burlington and Timothy J. Chant of Warwick,
RI; three daughters, Catherine M. Chant of Northfield, Barbara C.
Colton of Hingham, MA, and Elizabeth M. Chant of Colchester. He also is
survived by 12 grandchildren, Ariel, Luke, Libby, Margaret, Sarah,
Emily, Thomas, Jacqueline, Jessica, Ethan, Brady and Drew, and one
great-granddaughter, Hannah.
A Mass will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, December 18, at Our Lady of the Snows Church in Waitsfield.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to COTS (Committee on
Temporary Shelter), P.O. Box 1616, Burlington, VT 05402.
