William Mather

Oakdale — William W. Mather, age 77, of Oakdale, died Thursday, Dec. 14, 2017, at the Lawrence + Memorial Hospital in New London.

He was born in Backus Hospital in Norwich, Dec. 15, 1939, the son of William and Mary Johnson Carpenter. He married Mary McCaffrey Mather on July 11, 1959, in St. Mary Star of the Sea Church in New London. She predeceased him on April 25th of this year.

Mr. Mather served in the U.S. Army Reserves from 1956-1957, and went to work at Pfizer Inc. in Groton, retiring in 1996 as a general foreman of the Organic 3 Department. He was also an officer in the New London Police Department from 1963 until 1973. He was a volunteer for Hospice and was a devoted communicant of St. Patrick Cathedral in Norwich.

He is survived by a son, William Mather of East Lyme; daughter, Kimberly Rabbitt (husband Michael) of North Stonington; sister, Dorothy Murach of Texas. He has four grandchildren, William Mather III, Whitney Mather, Jennifer Strunk and Kristin Sanquedolce, and a great-granddaughter, Evelyn Strunk.

Calling hours are from 6 to 8 p.m. today, Monday, Dec. 18, at the Thomas L. Neilan & Sons Funeral Home, 12 Ocean Ave., New London. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Tuesday in St. Patrick Cathedral, Norwich. Interment will be private on a later date.

Condolences may be shared on William’s memorial page at www.neilanfuneralhome.com. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to St. Patrick Cathedral, 213 Broadway, Norwich, CT 063650.