Monsignor William F. Schultz

The Reverend Monsignor William F. Schultz of Stratford, Conn., entered into rest on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2013. He was 75.

The son of Frank and Anna Sieczek Schultz, he was born Oct. 7, 1938, in Paterson, N.J.

Monsignor Schultz attended parochial elementary and secondary schools in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. His college and seminary years of education revolved around Mount St. Alphonsus in Esopus, where he received a bachelor of arts degree and was ordained to the priesthood by Francis Cardinal Spellman, on June 21, 1964.

Monsignor Schultz completed his graduate studies at Georgetown University with a masters degree in linguistics.

As a parish priest, Monsignor Schultz served as associate pastor at St. Clement Parish in Saratoga Springs, St. Andrew Parish, Bridgeport, Conn., and St. Augustine Cathedral Parish, also in Bridgeport, where he became pastor in 1976.

Before his appointment to Our Lady of Grace, Monsignor Schultz was pastor of St. Patrick in Bridgeport. In 1988 Monsignor Schultz was named honorary prelate by His Holiness, Pope John Paul II.

Monsignor was appointed Pastor of Our Lady of Grace by the Most Reverend Edward M. Egan, J.C.D., on June 23, 1995.

Monsignor Schultz was involved in the Bridgeport and Stratford communities by serving in the Bridgeport Lions Club, former chaplain of the Bridgeport Police Department, 4th Degree Member of the Knights of Columbus, chaplain of the Stratford Fire Department, and past chairman of St. Vincent Medical Center Advisory Council.

Survivors include: his sister, Frances Iczkowski (Stephen Sr.) of Wayne, N.J.; five nephews: Stephen Iczkowski Jr. (Lorrie) of Southwick, Mass.; Edward Iczkowski of San Antonio, Texas; Daniel Iczkowski of Morris Plains, N.J.; Richard Schultz (Tina) of Norfolk, Va., and Andrew Schultz (Malene) of Edmeston; two nieces: Jeanne Spinosa (Richard) of Succasunna, N.J., and Karen Schultz of Colorado. He is further survived by numerous cousins, great nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his brother James Schultz.

A funeral Mass was held Oct. 19 at the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church, Wayne, N.J.

Burial was in Christ the King Cemetery, Franklin Lakes, N.J.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the T.S. Purta Funeral Home in Florida.

To send a condolence online, please go to www.purtafuneralhome.com.