OBITUARY

New Zealand Tablet, 27 May 1915, Page 29

OBITUARY

MOTHER MARY DI RICCI KIRBY, O.S.D. The death occurred at St. Dominic's Priory on Wednesday, 19th inst., of Mother Mary di Ricci Kirby, one of the foundresses of the Order in New Zealand. ■ Deceased, who was born at Limerick 78 years ago, was the niece of Archbishop Kirby, a schoolfellow and personal friend of Pope Leo XIII. After having completed her education at the Carmelite Convent, Dublin, Mother Mary di Ricci entered the Do-minican-Order at Sion Hill, where, in 1858, she was admitted to holy profession. When Dr. Moran, on the eve of setting out for his new diocese in far-off New Zealand, asked for a band of Religious to accompany him, Mother di Ricci offered herself, and was one of the ten pioneers who established the Dominican Order in the diocese of Dunedin. After some years of labor in the schools in Dunedin, deceased founded a branch house of the Order at Invercargill, where she is still most affectionately remembered. Later on, she had entrusted to her the training of the novices, and in this work she was eminently successful. In 1899, Mother di Ricci went to West Australia to assist in the foundation of a convent there, and, her share of the undertaking accomplished, she returned to New Zealand the following year. Seven years ago deceased celebrated the golden jubilee of her profession, marking the close of fifty years of religious life, during which she had so nobly borne 'the burden and the heat of the day,' and had merited to hear from the lips of our Divine Lord Himself those words which, fifty years before, had sounded in her ears —' Veni sponsa Christi, accipe i'oronam qitam tibi Dominus preparavit in aeternuni.' On Friday morning at 9 o'clock in St. Joseph's Cathedral a Solemn Pontifical Rccpuiem Mass was celebrated by his Lordship Bishop Verdon, Very Rev. Mgr. O'Leary being assistant priest, Rev. Father McMullau deacon, Rev. Father Buckley subdeacon, and Very Rev. Father Coffey master of ceremonies. There were also present —Rev. Fathers Delany, Corcoran, Kavanagh, Falconer, Tobin, and Foley. The music was feelingly rendered by the nuns' choir. Later on, the school children were formed into rank and led the funeral procession to the Southern Cemetery,' where Monsignor O'Leary officiated at the grave. May she rest in peace. MISS NORA FITZGERALD, TE AROHA. It is with feelings of sincere regret (writes a correspondent) that I have to report the death, at the age of twenty-four years, of Mifs Nora Fitzgerald, third daughter of Mr. Maurice Fitzgerald, of Mangaiti, Te, Aroha, who passed away, after a protracted illness, on

April 9, fortified by all.the rites of the Church. It is only four years ago that Mr. Fitzgerald ■ came to <■ this district, \ having lived for twenty years previously at Kaponga, Taranaki. * The remains were interred in the Te Aroha cemetery. The burial service was read by the Rev. Father McGuinness, who paid a tribute to the many virtues of the deceased, and expressed his own deep sympathy and that of those present with the bereaved parents and family. They have also the sympathy of a large circle of friends in Taranaki.—R.l. P.. MRS. W. J. COUGHLAN, DUNEDIN. We regret to record the death of Mrs. Coughlan, wife of Mr. W. J. Coughlan, Rattray street, Dunedin, who passed away after a brief illness on May 19 at the age of 59 years. The late Mrs. Coughlan, who was of a most kind and amiable disposition, and greatly esteemed by all who knew her, was the eldest daughter of the late Mr. Michael Lawton, of Woodstock, Carrigtwohill, Cork. She came out to New Zealand in 1880, and twenty-three years ago was married to Mr. Coughlan. The deceased leaves two sisters resident in the North Island (Mrs. Maurice Coughlan, of Puni, and Mrs. Hackworth, of Wellington), and one brother (Mr. William K. Lawton, of Pukeoware, Waiuku). The -remains were taken to St. Joseph's Cathedral, and the funeral, which was private, left there on Saturday for the Southern Cemetery. Very Rev. Father Coffey, Adm., officiated at the graveside. Mr. Coughlan and family have the sincere sympathy of their many friends throughout the Dominion in their bereavement. — RIP. MASTER BERNARD JAMES FLANNERY, OMAKAU. We regret to record the death of Master Bernard James Flannery, son of Mr. and Mrs. Bryan Flannery, Omakau, Central Otago. The deceased was a student of Holy Cross College, Mosgiel, but twelve months ago was compelled to give up studies on account of illhealth. It was hoped that a rest at home would bring about a cure and enable the young student to continue his studies for the priesthood ; but God willed otherwise and called him to his reward on May 19. Endowed with talents of a very high order, of a singularly innocent and noble disposition and gifted with a lovable personality, the youthful aspirant to the priesthood enjoyed the high esteem of his professors- and was beloved by his fellow-students. May God rest his soul. MR. j. r. Mcdonald, iieatherlea, levin. (From a correspondent.) The funeral of the late Mr. J. R. McDonald, of lieatherlea, Levin, took place on Saturday, May 22. Rev. Father Melu, an old friend of the family, officiated in the church, and spoke feelingly of the deceased, who, he said, was a kind friend, a good husband, a devoted father, a useful citizen, and above all a practical Catholic. It was a consolation to his family and his friends to know that, although his end was sudden, he was not unprepared for it. The funeral, the largest ever witnessed in the district, proceeded to the private burial ground of the McDonald family, near the Horowhenua Lake. There it was met by the Natives, who desired to show in their Maori way their respect for their departed friend. An impressive ' haka' was performed, and Rere Nicholson, the local chief, on behalf of the Natives, told of their great sorrow, and of their deep appreciation of the friendship that deceased had always entertained for them. He was like a link with the early days, and often had smoothed relations between Europeans and Natives. Eight stalwart Maoris in their Native dress placed the bier on their shoulders and carried it the rest of the way to the grave. Father Mplu read the burial service, and was assisted by Rev. Fathers Henry, Schaeffer, and Doolaghty. After the ceremony the Maoris entertained the visitors. The late Mr. McDonald was born at Horowhenua. His father Hector McDonald, was one of the first

settlers in the ■ district, : and in the •whaling' days : was well known as i a daring harpooner. : . The deceased was the largest-landowner in the district. He?was one of the first, members of the Manawatu County Council, belonged to most,, of the 'local societies, and alsb. to several racing clubs. He took part in ' every movement "for 1 the uplifting "of the. Maori race. - The Natives considered him as one of their own, and in their meetings he often impressed them by his eloquence. He was a great friend and supporter of the Maori Mission, and contributed to the success of the Maori meetings held in Otaki by Father Delach. For some time past he had not been in the best of health, yet there was nothing in his condition to lead his family and friends to believe that his end was so n&ar. On Thursday, , May 19, he left his home to attend the Wanganui races, and on the same evening, when on his way to visit one of his friends, his hour came. Deceased, who was 56 years of age, leaves a widow and a family of six—four sons and two daughtersand also many sincere friends to mourn their loss.R.I.P. - MR. PATRICK TRAYNOR, INVERCARGILL. By the death of Mr. Patrick Traynor, which occurred at his home in Invercargill on Wednesday, May 19, one of the earliest settlers of the Wyndham township has been removed from our midst. Death came rather suddenly, but deceased had the consolation of receiving the last rites of the Church before he expired. The late Mr. Traynor was a native of County Mayo, and, in company with his wife in the latter part of 1873 crossed over to Glasgow, where he resided for over a year. On New Year's Day, 1875, with their infant son (the late Mr. Andrew Traynor), they sailed from Glasgow in the ship Timaru on her maiden voyage, landing at Bluff on April 25, 1875, the voyage taking' 121 days. After working at his trade as a wheelwright for two years in Invercargill, he went to Wyndham 39 years ago, and remained until 12 months ago, when, having retired from business some time previous, he decided to spend his declining years in Invercargill. While in Wyndham he was successful in building up a business as general builder and wheelwright, and in this was succeeded by his two sons, Messrs Andrew (since dead) and Edward Traynor, under the designation of Traynor Bros. The deceased was of a retiring disposition ; he had very many friends, and no enemies. He was an ardent angler, and was always a familiar figure on the banks of the Mimihau during the trout season. He was a member of the Wyndham Racing Club for many years, and was a constant subscriber to the N.Z. Tablet since almost its first issue. The deceased is survived by his widow, four sons, and three daughters —Mrs. M. Woods (Invercargill), Mrs. W. Baird (Invercargill), Mrs. F. Delany (Christchurch), Messrs, E. J. Traynor (Wyndham), James Traynor (who is fighting in the Dardanelles), Thomas Traynor (Invercargill, who has offered for the front), and Joseph Traynor (Wyndham), —and eleven grandchildren. The funeral took place at Wyndham on Friday afternoon, and was largely attended. Very Rev. Father O'Donnell (Gore) conducted the burial service.—P.