LAID TO HIS REST

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 146, 23 June 1931, Page 6

LAID TO HIS REST

FUNERAL OF FRANK CROTTY CITIZENS PAY RESPECT. AN IMPRESSIVE TRIBUTE. “Having loved them in life let us i forgot them in death.” The words of St. Ambrose were taken by the R*v, Father Hoare as the text of his exhortation to the crowded congregation at St. Mary’s Church yesterday morning, when Wanganui citizens honoured the memory of the late Mr Frank Crotty, prior to the interment at tho Catholic Cemetery. Requiem Mass was celebrated, thn service being marked by devoutne.-s and earnestness. The Rev. Father W. Ainsworth. S.M., was the celebrant, and in the sanctuary were Fathers Outtrim Venning and Hoare, S.M. Hymns were sung by pupils of the Convent School and the Marist Brothers’ School, and as the pall-bearers carried the coffin, draped with a Union Jack and the colours of the Wellington-West Coast Regiment, from tho church, the organ was hoard pealing forth the mournful yet triumphant strains of the Dead March in “Saul.”

Paying a tribute to the memory of Mr Crotty. Father Hoare Proverbs —“I will give thee a greatfl gift. Forsake not My law.” Frank J Crotty, he said, had been given thofl groat gift of making people happy, and® that he had made the fullest use of his® talents was evident from the fact that® ho had won tho esteem and respect offl all members of the community. N<fl appeal for a worthy object found hifl services refused, and his bright andß happy personality endeared him to all® who camo in contact with him. Infl spite of his many activities ho neveifl neglected matters ■Jritual, and hefl passed on. as he had lived his short ■ life, loved and esteemed by all for his i bright and generous qualities. Con- 1 eluding with words of comfort for the 1 bereaved parents, brothers and sister, Father Hoare said that tho sympathy of the congregation would go out to them in their loss. His was a message of hope and cheer. Outside the church a very largo crowd had gathered to pay respect to the memory of a young citizen, and in a reverent silence, wit-h the bell tolling for the departed soul, the cortege set out for the Catholic Cemetery, proceeding by way of Maria Place, St. Hill Street and Guyton Street. The Wanganui Division of the St. John Ambulance Brigade provided a guard of honour, members heading the while following them were boys from the Marist Brothers’ School, carrying the many wreaths for which room could not be found in the hearse. The pallbearers were Messrs L. McGreevy, E. Lewis. 8. Penn and F. Kiddle, and following in the procession were members of the Hibernian Society and representatives of every public and sports body in Wanganui. The long cortege extended the full length of Guyton Street from St. Hill Street to tho cemetery. As it passed the Central Fire Station the alarm bell was tolled and members of the permanent staff stood ut the salute as a mark of respect to the memory of their former comrade. An impressive service was conducted at the graveside by the Rev. Father Hoare, assisted by the Rev. Father Ln Croix. Members of the Hibernian Society and of the St. John Ambulance, together with tho Marist Brothers schoolboys, formed a guard of honour at the entrance to the cemetery. After the prayers for tho dead had been re cited and a hymn had been sung by the Marist schoolboys, the haunting notes of the “Last Post’’ were sounded bv Mr J. Watson, conductor of the Garrison Band.

There were laid on the grave after wards the many beautiful floral which had been sent by every organisation with which the late Mr Crotty had been connected, as well as from a host of friends. In ’addition to the wreaths sent by all the sports bodies in Wanganui floral emblems were received from old members of the N.Z.E.F., the Wanganui Amateur Musical and Dramatic Society, the Wanga nui Division of the St. John Ambulance Brigade, the Wanganui Savage Club, the Wanganui Police Force, and the permanent and auxiliary staffs of the Wanganui Fire Brigade. Certainly if evidence were needed nt the universal esteem in which Frank Crotty was held in Wanganui, and also further afield in the Dominion, tho wonderful but reverent tribute paid him yesterday will long be remembered.