Bishop Roger Gries, OSB, auxiliary bishop emeritus of Cleveland, celebrated the funeral Mass on July 27 at St. Albert the Great Church, North Royalton, for Father James A. Viall. Monsignor Richard Antall was the homilist.
Father Viall, 89, died on July 18.
He was born on Feb. 9, 1929 to the late Arthur W. and Agnes (Dittler) Viall.
Father Viall was educated at Sacred Heart Seminary, Detroit, Michigan and Saint Mary Seminary, Cleveland. He was ordained to the priesthood for service to the Diocese of Cleveland by Archbishop Edward Hoban on Dec.18, 1954.
His first assignment was parochial vicar of St. Jerome Parish in Cleveland. On June 21, 1960, he was assigned as parochial vicar of St. Monica Parish, Garfield Heights. He was named parochial vicar of St. Raphael Parish in Bay Village on June 8, 1961 and on June 14, 1962, he was assigned as director of the Diocesan Vocation Office. On Dec. 5, 1974, he was assigned as pastor of St. Rose of Lima Parish in Cleveland.
Father Viall retired on Feb. 9, 2005.
Interment was at All Saints Cemetery in Northfield.