THE LATE MR. RIORDAN

Ellesmere Guardian, Volume LIII, Issue 31, 19 April 1932, Page 6

THE LATE MR. RIORDAN

FUNERAL OBSEQUIES.

A LARGE ATTENDANCE

One of the largest funerals which have been witnessed in Leeston in

recent years marked the final obsequies of the late Mr Michael Riordan, whose interment took place on Sunday afternoon. Cars lined both sides of High street for some considerable distance, and when the cortege left Mr Riordan's late residence, the procession comprised over 100 motor cars. The district was fully represented, and people from far and wide gathered to pay their last respects to the late Mr Riordan. Indeed, as a tribute to Mr Riordan's memory, the large attendance was eloquent testimony of his standing in the district, and the regard in which he was held. At 2.45 p.m. the funeral left Mr Riordan's late residence and wended its way to the Catholic Church, where a special service was recited by the Rev. Father Creed, assisted by the Rev. Father O'Gorman. The pregnant words of the Catholic Church ritual "Requiem aeternum dona ci Domine: et lux perpetua luceat ci" ("Eternal rest grant unto him O Lord and a perpetual light shine upon him") were most impressive, and the congregation, which completely filled the church, was held by the beauty and feeling of the words which the occasion gave added solemnity to. A number of floral tributes covered the coffin, the bearers of which were members of the H.A.C.8.5., of which Mr Riordan was a prominent member in his lifetime: Messrs A. D. Car-

roll, R. J. McMahon, J. McMahon, B. Greenan, E. R. V. Winter and A. Carroll. Immediately upon the conclusion of the service the procession re-formed, and headed for the Catholic Cemetery. At the graveside a short service was conducted by the Rev. Father Creed, and he was again assisted by the Rev. Father O'Gorman. The responses were made by members of the H.A.C.8.5., who lined up alongside the grave. Wreaths were sent by Dr. and Mrs W. A. Johnston, Mr and Mrs P. Delargey, Mr H. Fomison and family and Miss McGregor, Mr and Mrs E. G. McCullough, Mr and Mrs R. Bruce, Mr and Mrs E. Mclntyre, Mr and Mrs J. T. Sutton, Mr and Mrs Guest and family, "Jack and Margaret and boys," the Riordan family, Mr and Mrs A. S. Lyons, Annie and Mary, Mr and Mrs G. W. Cooke and family, Mr and Mrs J. Brown, Mr and Mrs W. Martin, Mr and Mrs Sehnelle and family, Mr and Mrs Haines and family, officers and brethren of the Hibernian Society, Mrs E. M. Kennedy, Mr and Mrs W. Quigley and N.Z. Breweries, Ltd., and one wreath without a card.