OBITUARY

New Zealand Tablet, 20 May 1915, Page 36

OBITUARY

MR. JAMES BOURKE, KILBIRNIE. (From our Wellington correspondent.) The death occurred on Friday evening, May 7, of Mr James Bourke, one of the oldest and most respected citizens of Wellington. Mr. Bourke was a staunch Catholic, a prominent Irishman, and one of the Church's most generous benefactors in this city. The late Mr. Bourke arrived in Wellington about 4? years ago, and for about 45 years of that time was a resident of Kilbirnie, where he carried on a wool-scouring business. He was a native of Limerick, and came of an old Irish family remarkable for its adherence to the faith. He took a keen interest in the development of Wellington, and was a member of the first Melrose Borough Council. In the early days, before the erection of churches at Kilbirnie, South Wellington, and Buckle street, Mr. Bourke was a familiar figure at the nearest church in those days—St. Mary of the Angels', Boulcott street, where he and the members of his family attended. As a tribute to his memory, and in accordance with his expressed wish, the burial service was held at that church. The Von. Archdeacon Devoy, S.M., celebrated a Solemn Requiem Mass, and his Grace Archbishop O'Shea, who was present, made feeling reference to the many good qualities of the deceased. The music was rendered by the Rev. Fathers Venning, S.M., Kimbell, S.M., Peoples, S.M., and Quealy. There were also in the sanctuary, Very Rev. Father Roche, C.SS.R., Rev. Father Kelly, C.SS.R., Very Rev. Dean Lane, and Rev. Father Walsh (Lower Hutt). Very Rev. Father O'Connell, S.M., officiated at, the. Mount Street Cemetery, where the interment took place. Rev. Father Peoples attended the deceased in his last illness. Mrs. Bourke predeceased her husband some years ago. His four sons are Messrs. M. F., I. J., T. J., and J. P. Bourke, who are well-known wool buyers of this city. The last-named is at present in England. One of the daughters is Sister Mary Vincent of the Convent of Mercy, Wellington South, and another is Mrs. J. O'Shea, Hawera, wife of Mr. J. O'Shea, brother of his Grace Archbishop O'Shea The others are Miss Bourke (Kilbirnie), Mrs. A. Vickers (Blenheim), Mrs. T. Quirk (Gisborne), and Mrs. O. Hickman (Marlborough). Mr. Bourke's death was referred' to feelingly in all the churches on Sunday. Particular reference was made at St. Patrick's Church, Kilbirnie, by the Ven. Archdeacon Devoy, to the many good qualities of the deceased, and to the loss his death meant to the Catholic community of Wellington. On Tuesday evening, at the meeting of the confraternity of the Holy Family at St. Gerard's Church, the Rev. Father Kelly, C.SS.R., referred to the deceased as a. benefactor of the Rcdemptorist Order, and commended his soul to the prayers of the members of the confraternity.— R. LP. MRS. MARY RICHMOND, PORTOBELLO. The many friends of Mrs. Richmond will regret to hear of her death, which took place after a very short illness on April 13. The deceased was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, 76 years ago. When quite a young woman she arrived in Victoria. A few years later she came to New Zealand, with her husband, and settled atPortobello, where she resided till the date of her death, a period of 45 years. She was of a loving, quiet, and generous nature, always faithful to her religious duties, and greatly esteemed by old and young. She leaves a brother (Mr. James Doherty, Owaka), and one adopted daughter to mourn their loss.R.I.P.