Death of Mrs. Ainsworth, Greymouth.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXX, Issue 25, 19 June 1902, Page 20

Death of Mrs. Ainsworth, Greymouth.

On Wednesday evening la-t (writes a Greymouth correspondent) Mrs Annie Ainsworth, wife of Mr S. Aiusworth, and mother of the Rev. Father Ainsworth, S M.. met her death evidently through her clothes catching fire. At half-pa?t five on the evening in question Mr Ainsworth left the deceased lady alone in the house, and when Miss Mary Swift, her companion, called an hour later no response oould be obtained to her repeated knocking. Being alarmed, Miss Swift went for her brother, who on coming burst in the door and found the deceased lying on the floor unconscious and her clothing in flames. Assistance was immediately sent for, and Drs. Mcßrearty, father and Bon, were soon in attendance and did everything that medical skill could suggest. Father Kimbell, S.M , was also present and administered the last rites of the Church. At eight o'clock the deceased breathed her last, fortified by the Apostolic Blessing of our Holy Father Leo XIII.. obtained for her by her son, the Rev. Father Ainsworth, during his late visit to Europe. News of the cad accident was immediately telegraphed to Father Ainsworth, who was concluding a mission in Westport, and he forthwith drove all night to Reefton, catching the morning train. He arrived in Greymouth at 11 o'clock on Thursday morning. That evening theremains of the deceased were taken to the parish church, where faithful friends kept vigil through tbe night ; and on next mornin-j — the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Ji sut- — Masses for the repoee of the soul of the deceased were offered at 7 and 7.30, and a Solemn Requiem Mass was chanted at 9 o'clock, the Rev. Father Ainsworth being celebrant, Very Rev. Dean Carew deacon, Very Rev. Dean Martin sub-deacon, and Fathers Malone and Kimbell acting as cantors. The Rev. Fathers O'Hallohan and Leen were present in the sanctuary. The sanctuary and pulpit were draped in black, and a large congregation assisted at the Mass, at the conclusion of which the organic played ' O le^t in the Lord,' from ' Elijah ' In the afternoon the funeral took place, and aR the procession left the church the Dead March in 'Saul' was played. On arrival at the grave the ' Benedictus ' was sung by the cleigy, the service at the grave being cenducted by the Rev. Father Ainsworth. The greatest sympathy is felt for Mr Ainsworth and family in their sad bereavement, and messages of sympathy have been received from every part of the Colony, including telegrams from his Excellency the Governor, Sir Joseph Ward, the Archbishop and Bishops, and clergy, and a great number of friends of every class and denomination. One fact that tends to make the death of the deceased the more pathetic is that &he was expecting her sod. Father Ainsworth, home on Friday, and had everything in readiness for his coming. For the last 28 years the deceased lady had been totally blii.d, and though laboring under this sad affliction yet she was the most cheerful of women and was never beard to complain of her lot. She was a devout client of the Sacred Heart of Jesup. and the first Friday of each month found her at the altar. It was her custom to be led to church on the day preceding the first Friday to prepare for the following day, and for the last time on the same day she was brought to the church and laid in front of the altar, before which it had been her delight to paps hours in pray* r. On the first Friday of June, and the very feast of the Sacred Heart, it wbb her privilege to lie before God's altar whilst the Adorable Sacrifice was offered for the repose of her soul. ' Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of the just.' — R.I P.