William J. Klatt, a longtime supporter, trustee and volunteer with Good Counsel Homes, Riverside, a diocesan outreach ministry that provides care to pregnant women and their children, died March 25 in his home in Sewell. He was 78.

Born in Philadelphia, Mr. Klatt lived in Pitman for 33 years and Sewell for 14 years. After retiring from MAMCO where he worked for 25 years as vice president and another 10 years for Marvin Windows, Mr. Klatt served the Diocese of Camden as the pro-life coordinator, during which time he became involved with the establishment of the South Jersey-based Good Counsel Homes, which is located on the grounds of Resurrection Parish, Delran.

JoAnn DiNoia, who currently works with fundraising for the ministry, reflected on how she was the founding director of the South Jersey home when she first met Mr. Klatt and came to realize his dedication for the sanctity of life and willingness to do “whatever it took to open our doors to our first mother and to continue to raise the money to welcome future mothers – [It]was truly a witness of his call to do God’s work.”

Recalling Mr. Klatt’s vision and sense of mission for providing a safe haven for women who said “yes” to God’s gift of life, DiNoia spoke of his heading up a leadership team that raised more than $600,000 in six years for the establishment of the Riverside home.

 “That dedication never stopped,” she said, then added how fitting it seemed that on the same day Mr. Klatt died, Palm Sunday, Good Counsel Homes welcomed the birth of a new baby boy.

“We at Good Counsel will always refer to the new baby as ‘Baby Bill’,” said DiNoia. “There is no question Bill heard those words we all pray to hear one day from our Lord, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

Mr. Klatt is survived by his wife of 57 years, Joanne E. (Conway); three daughters and their spouses; seven children and three great grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to Good Counsel Homes South Jersey, 116 Heulings Ave., Riverside, N.J. 08075.