OBITUARY

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXI, Issue 21, 21 May 1903, Page 19

OBITUARY

Sister M. Monica, Dunedin

The announcement that Sister Mary Monica Tobin had passed away came as a great shock to the Catholic community of Dunedin, for very few of them were aware that she had been unwell. She -had been ill only for ten or twelve days, but her condition up to a short time before death was not such as to cause anxiety, but pneumonia set in and despite all that medical skill could do she passed away at St. Dominic's Priory • on Thursday morning of last week, her death being a very holy and most edifying one. During her illness she was constantly attended . by the Rev. Father Murphy, who was also present at the last moment to administer the rites of the Church to the departing soul. The deceased Sister received her education at the schools of the Dominican Nuns, »and made her religious profession about twelve years ago, having been received into the Order of St. Dominic by the late Bishop Moran. Prior to her profession she had held, for a considerable time, the position of president of the Sodality of Children of Mary, a Confraternity in which she took a very deep interest. The deceased was what is known as the Sister Touriere of the community — having charge of the external business of the convent, a position which brought her into contact with the general public, by one and all of whom she was highly esteemed for her unvarying gentleness,, tact, and courtesy. For a number of years she devoted a great deal of time and work to the Cathedral, bestowing special attention on the beautifying of the sanctuary, and the chaste decorations' on the high altar on special, occasions bore testimony to her good taste and her great zeal for the proper' adornment of God's house. The parish has, indeed, sustained a great loss in her demise. By the Dominican Nuns her loss will be keenly felt, ,as her services were much valued by the Mother Prioress and the whole community.

On Saturday morning the remains were removed from, the fct. Dominic's Priory to St. Joseph's Cathedral, where a Solemn Kequiem Mass for the repose of the soul of the deceased was celebrated by his Lordship the Right Rev. Dr. Verdon, Rev.' Father Cleary being assis-' tant priest, Rev. Father Howard deacon, Rev. Father O'Malley sub-deacon, and Rev. Father Murphy master of ceremonies, there being also present Rev. Father ColTey and Rev. Father Delany. The solemn music of the Mass was rendered by the choir of the Dominican Nuns. The funeral took place in the afternoon, and was largely attended by all classes, and the number' of beautiful wreaths placed on the coinn was evidence of the high respect in which Sister Mary Monica was held by the Catholic community. His Lordship the Bishop officiated both at the Cathedral and at the graveside in the Sdathern Cemetery, the clergy present being the Rev. Fathers Murphy, Coffey. Cleary, Delany, Howard, M. Ryan, and P. O'Neill.— R.T.P.