OBITUARY

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXI, Issue 38, 17 September 1903, Page 20

OBITUARY

MR. PATRICK McNAMEE, GARSTON.

As briefly announced in our last issue, Mr. Patrick McNamee, an old and highly-esteemed Catholic resident of Garston, passed away to his eternal reward on September 7 after a few days' illness, at the age of t>4 years. The late Mr. McNamee was born in County Cavan, and whilst yet in his early boyhood came out to South Australia with his parents. At the age of IS years he went to the Ballarat diggings, and after staying there for some years he came to this Colony in the early sixties, where he engaged in gold-mining at Tuapeka. In 1867 he went to the Shotover. About four or live years after his arrival at bnotover he was married at Tuapeka, gave up his search for the precious metal, and engaged in farming pursuits at Garston, which he successfully followed up to the time of his demise. The deceased was one of the most highly esteemed residents of the Garston district, ana was respected by all sections of the community. He was a generous supporter of every good cause, and his purse was ever open at the call of faith and fatherland. He was a generous donor to every claim of religion and his valuable and handsome gifts to the new church in ,Garston will long be remembered. He was a very patriotic . Irishman, and although he had left his native land at a very early age still his love for it had never cooled, and no appeal for monetary assistance to forward the national aspirations passed by him unheeded. The late Mr. McNamee was a fine speciman of an Irish Catholic, fervent in faith, and highly honorable and straightforward in all his actions. It is needless to say that his death came as a great shock to his family, and was deeply regretted by the whole community. He was attended in his last illness by the Rev. Father O'Donnell, of Gore, and received the last Sarcaments of the Church in the most edifying manner. The funeral, which took place on Thursday of last week, was the largest ever seen in 'Garston, the cortege being representative of all classes. The last solemn rites at the graveside were performed by the Rev. Father O'Donnell, of Queenstown. The deceased leaves a widow, two sons, and seven daughters to mourn their loss, and to these we tender our sincerest sympathy in their bereavement. — R.I.P.