Brother William S. Lyons
April 29, 1937 ~ March 7, 2022
Brother William S. Lyons, C.F.X., 84, a member of the Congregation of the Brothers of Saint Francis Xavier for nearly sixty-eight years, died Monday, March 7, 2022 at Xaverian House in Danvers, where he had been a member of the community since 2018.
Born in Worcester on April 29, 1937, he was the son of the late John and Frances (Sweeney) Lyons. He was raised in North Brookfield and was a 1954 graduate of Saint John’s High School in Worcester. He entered the Xaverian Brothers following graduation and on September 8, 1954 received the holy habit, taking the religious name Brother Sabinus.
He received his bachelor’s degree from Catholic University in 1960 and a master’s degree in Spanish from Fordham University in 1970. In the mid-1980s, Brother Lyons completed pastoral studies at the Jesuit School of Theology and the Franciscan School of Theology, both in Berekley, CA.
His teaching ministry began in 1960 at Archbishop Stepinac High School in White Plains, NY. In the next decade, he would teach at the Brothers’ other New York high schools. First at Notre Dame High School in Utica and then Cardinal Hayes High School in the Bronx.
In 1970, Brother Lyons transferred to Malden Catholic High School, where he would spend the next fifteen years. A gifted Spanish language teacher, Brother Lyons was frequently chair of the foreign language department and a mentor and advisor to his faculty and staff colleagues wherever he was assigned.
He left Malden Catholic in 1985, and when he returned from his pastoral training in California, taught briefly at Bishop Fenwick High School before joining the foreign language department at Saint John’s Prep in 1989. Brother Bill retired from teaching in 2006 and joined the Xaverian Brothers community in Westwood until joining the community at Xaverian House in 2018.
In addition to his brothers in religion, he leaves several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded by his siblings, John and Ann Lyons, Jean Durning, and Mary Lou Mykiel.
His Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, March 12, 2022 at 11AM in the chapel of Saint John’s Preparatory School, 72 Spring St., Danvers. Burial will follow in Xaverian Brothers Cemetery, Danvers. Visitation is Saturday morning prior to Mass from 10-10:45AM. In lieu of flowers, donations in Brother Lyons’ memory may be made to the Xaverian Brothers Retirement Fund, 4409 Frederick Ave., Baltimore, MD 21229. Arrangements are by C.R. Lyons & Sons Funeral Directors, 28 Elm St., Danvers Square. www.LyonsFuneral.com.
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May Brother William be received into the Community of Saints joining his Xaverian Colleagues, his ancestors, and his loving God. Rest in Peace. Father Leo Shea, M.M.
Last evening in Ft. Myers, Florida, Doctor Edward Hardiman welcomed alumni and friends of St. John’s Prep to a reception during which the headmaster explained the successes of the school and reminded us of the incredible contribution of the Xaverians Brothers like William.
I was a student of Brother William’s at Malden Catholic in the mid-1970s. English, Spanish and Religious Studies. I remember him fondly, all these years later, as a kind and effective teacher, who commanded great respect, but was also friendly and approachable. I have no doubt that there are thousands like me, former students, who have great memories, and a few stories to tell.
May he rest in peace.
Domenic Cianciarulo, Westwood, MA
MCHS Class of 1977
I was also a student at Malden Catholic who had Brother William for English and Spanish. I will never forget the Friday Spanish tests (blue ink mimeograph) that had us conjugate verbs out to 12 tenses — it didn’t make sense until I was in Mexico in my mid 20s and somehow remembered enough from his classes to find ceramic tiles in an old neighborhood work shop. He was the best teacher I ever had up to and including graduate school. Thank you Brother William.
Steve Kelly, Salisbury, MA
MCHS Class of 1976