Fullerton ‘Man of Year’ : Retired Pastor Msgr. Siebert Is Dead at 80

The Rev. Msgr. John William Siebert, longtime pastor of St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in Fullerton and co-founder of three other parishes and a high school in Orange County, died Sunday at Scripps Memorial Hospital-Encinitas after a long battle against heart disease.

Born April 13, 1906, in Worcester, Mass., Siebert was ordained June 10, 1933, at St. Michael’s Cathedral in Springfield, Mass., and was assigned to St. Victor’s Church in Hollywood the same year.

Siebert was assistant pastor, teacher and football coach at St. Monica’s Church and School in Santa Monica from 1937 to 1949. He became pastor of St. Mary’s Church in Fullerton in 1954 and served in that capacity until his official retirement on the 50th anniversary of his ordination, in 1983.

Named Prelate of Honor

He was appointed a prelate of honor with the title of Monsignor by Pope Paul VI in 1974.

During his time at St. Mary’s, Siebert led the work of rebuilding the church after a devastating fire and helped launch three nearby parishes--St. Philip’s Church and School, St. Juliana’s Church and School and St. Angela Merisi Church and School--and aided in the construction of Rosary High School.

He was selected as the Fullerton Chamber of Commerce’s “Man of the Year” in 1981 after serving for many years on the city’s Traffic Commission and the Chamber of Commerce board of directors.

He leaves a sister, Mildred Chrisney of Santa Monica, a niece and a nephew.

A children’s liturgy has been scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at St. Mary’s Church in Fullerton, followed by a funeral Mass at 7:30 p.m., Rosary at 10 p.m. and a second funeral Mass at 10 a.m. Thursday, with interment at Holy Sepulcher Cemetery in Orange. McAulay & Wallace Funeral Directors are in charge of arrangements.