OBITUARY

New Zealand Tablet, 4 September 1913, Page 43

OBITUARY

MR. RICHARD STACK, LEVIN. We regret to record the death of Mr. Richard Stack, of Levin, who passed away at the Otaki Hospital from an attack of pleurisy. ,He received the last rites of the Church from Rev. Father Henry of Otaki. The deceased, who was 59 years of age, was a native of Rathkenny, Co. Kerry, and unmarried.—R.l.P.

MRS. O'SHEA, LOWER HUTT. There passed away at Lower Hutt on August 13, after a long and painful illness, Mrs. Mary Gertrude Ruth O'Shea. Born at Bury St. Edmunds, England, in 1861, she arrived in New Zealand in 1881. Since then she resided at Lower Hutt. A convert to the faith, her life was one of devotion to the Church and her home. Her kind and generous nature endeared her to all who had the pleasure of knowing her. Widespread regret was felt here when her death was announced. The interment was a private one. Very Rev. Dean Lane,' assisted by Rev. Father Walshe, officiated at the graveside. Six members of the Hibernian Society acted as pall-bearers. The deceased lady leaves one son and two daughters to mourn their loss.R.I.P. REV. FATHER SCHNEIDER, S.M., MAKOGAI. A sad fatality occurred on Monday, June 30, when the Rev. Father Schneider, who was on his usual trip to the. Leper Island, Makogai, was drowned by. the upsetting of the boat he was in. It appears, by what we learn (says the Polynesian Gazette, Levuka), that the Rev. Father usually paid a weekly visit to the island, and on,this occasion he left Cawaci at 8.30 a.m., accompanied by three natives. The weather on the return journey was very squally, and,"when about two or three miles "off the Island of Makogai, a squall struck the boat, which was overturned, and the Rev. Father was not again seen, despite every effort on the part of the natives to find the priest. The accident was noticed by the residents on the island, who immediately went to the rescue in a small punt, and saved the crew. Dr. Hall arrived a few minutes afterwards with his launch,' and for a long time searched for the body, but, despite every effort, the body up to the present has not been founcl. The Rev. Father John Baptist Schneider was born in the Duchy of Luxemburg on March 15, 1843, and came from Sydney direct to Rotuma in 1880, before the annexation of that island to Britain. He spent 15 years of his life on that island, and then came to Fiji, where, with' the exception of two or three years spent in this group, he returned to Rotuma. He never left Fiji for 33 years. The Rev. Father was for the last two years in charge of the Catholic flock on the Island of Makogai, where he was much beloved by all who came in contact with him, for his entire devotion to the poor lepers of that island, whom he used to visit every Saturday, and return on Monday. There are at present stationed on the island three European Catholic Sisters and two native Sisters, who are in charge of the hospital, and who are consequently greatly distressed at the loss of the Rev. Father.—R.l.P.

MRS. MARY SLOANE, CHRISTCHURCH. Very much regret (writes an occasional correspondent) has been occasioned by the death of Mrs. Mary Sloane, which took place on August 23, at her residence in Hazeldean road, Christchurch. The deceased, who passed away at the comparatively early age of 53 years, was the eldest daughter of the late William Burke, of County Galway. In the early days of her girlhood she had the happiness of being confirmed by the celebrated Archbishop Mac Hale, well known to his countrymen as John of Tuam.' After her arrival in this Dominion, now many years ago, she married Mr. Hugh Sloane. For a long while she had not enjoyed good health, but tlrs great trial she bore with much Christian patience and fortitude. She was attended in her last illness by the Rev. Father Murphy, from whose hands she received the last rites of the Church. Mrs. Sloane,: who was universally respected,

leaves a husband and three children—two sons and one daughter mourn their loss. Her funeral was largely attended, and the Rev. Father Murphy, who celebrated the Requiem Mass in the Cathedral, for the repose of her soul, officiated at the graveside. Deceased was interred in the Linwood public cemetery.— R.I.P. ‘ '