OBITUARY

New Zealand Tablet, 28 October 1915, Page 31

OBITUARY

MRS. MARY GARVEY, MABEL BUSH. A very old resident, and one of the oldest pioneers of this district, passed away at her residence, Mabel Bush, on the afternoon of October 7, at the advanced age of 80 years. The deceased was a native of County Galway, and arrived at the Bluff 52 years ago. After a brief stay of two years in Invercargill, she and her husband (the late Thomas Garvey, who pre-deceased her by 20 years) .took up a farm at Mabel Bush on which she resided with her family for 50 years. On her arrival in Mabel Bush there were neither roads nor bridges between her home and Invercargill, and the settlers often formed a working bee to make the worst parts of the swamps passable for traffic. It was acts of this kind that formed a strong bond of sympathy between the old pioneers. The late Mrs. Garvey's homestead was known throughout the whole of Southland for the hospitality extended there to travellers. The deceased received Fiie last rites of the Church from Rev. Father Woods, who was most attentive during the whole of her long illness. The funeral was one of the largest that evei left this district.—R.l.P.

MISS M. J. SHANAGHAN, AUCKLAND (From our own correspondent.) Miss Mary J. Shanaghan, one of our oldest and most respected inhabitants, passed away on October 7, after a short illness of a few weeks. She was born at Chatham, England, in 1844, and in the following year, with her parents, arrived in Auckland, where she had resided ever since. She was educated at St. Mary's Convent, Ponsonby. , Her father was bandmaster of the 58th Regimental Band, and the deceased, imbibing the musical talents of her 'father, adopted the musical profession. She was one of the original members of the Auckland Choral Society. With the Catholic choirs of the city she had been identified since childhood. She was organist at St. John the Baptist's Church, Parnell, thence she transferred her services in like capacity to St. Francis de Sales Church, Newton. Then she took control of the Cathedral Choir as organist and conductress, and, under her management, the choir attained a very high level, and became famous throughout the Dominion. In the 'eighties she retired from this position. She was head and front of every Catholic and patriotic concert in the city for over a quarter of a century. She was fervently attached to the -cause

of Ireland, and kept in close touch with the Irish - - struggle, and was foremost in assisting the Irish dele- & gates when they visited . Auckland. Throughout €ho Mil city and province her name was a household word. Her ; remains were taken to the Cathedral, where a Requiem Mass was celebrated-by Very Rev. Father Cahill, Adm. At the- catafalque the services were . conducted by ■>■- Ci Father Cahill, assisted by Right Rev. Mgr. Brodie, V-G., and Rev. Father Golden. - As the funeral pro-'-V----cession left the Cathedral the. Dead March from • ‘Saul* was played by Mr. Harry Hiscocks. - The ’■ i interment took place in the Symond Street Cemetery beside her parents. Rev. Father Fordo; assisted by Monsignor .Brodie and Father Golden, conducted the service at the graveside. She leaves a surviving sister, ■' '•M Mrs. W. W. Smith, of Gisborne.R.l.P.