OBITUARY

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XLIV, Issue 1, 4 January 1917, Page 56

OBITUARY

MRS. P. DALTON, CHEVIOT. Quite a gloom was cast over Cheviot on December 6 when it became known that Mrs. Dalton, wife of Mr. Patrick Dalton, a well-known and highly-respected settler of Cheviot, had passed away at the Lewisham Hospital, Christchurch. The deceased lady (writes a correspondent), who was in her 66th) year, underwent an operation a week previous at the hospital, but gradually sank, and passed away on the above-mentioned date. The late Mrs Dalton was born at Athea, Co. Limerick, Ireland, and resided for a time with her husband at Temuka, removing to Cheviot at the commencement of that settlement, where they have resided ever since. The deceased lady was beloved by all who knew her for her kind and charitable disposition, and her death will cause a deep loss to a large circle of friends. The funeral, which took place on December 8, left Mina Railway Station for the Catholic church and thence to the Homeview Cemetery. It was one of the largest ever seen in the district, and the coffin was covered with beautiful wreaths from the many friends of the deceased. The Rev. Father O'Connor officiated at the graveside. ' Great sympathy is felt for Mr. Dalton, as his only son has recently gone to the front. The late Mrs. Dalton leaves a grown-up family (Mrs. A. 11. Forbes, Christchurch : Mrs. D. McLaren, "Christchurch, and Mr. J. Dalton, Cheviot) to mourn their loss.—R.l.P. MRS JOHN FITZGERALD, TEMUKA.' It is with very sincere regret (writes a correspondent) I have to record the death of a very old colonist, in the person of Mrs. Anna Fitzgerald, wife of Mr. John Fitzgerald, J.P., which took place on December 13 at her residence, Cullen Farm, Arowhenua, Temuka, in her 84th year. The late Mrs. Fitzgerald came to New Zealand in the early 'fifties. After two years spent here she re-visited the Old Land, but returned again in 1863 in the ship Lancashire Witch. After arriving here she went to live with the family of the late Hon. J. B. Acland, where she met Mr. Fitzgerald, whom she married in the old Catholic Church, Christchurch, the ceremony being performed by the late Very Rev. Father Chervier in 1868. The deceased knew what it was to rough it in the early days in the district, and there being very few houses at the time her hospitality was fully availed of, no chance wayfarer being ever refused either food or shelter. Mrs. Fitzgerald was an exemplary Catholic, and one of the .pillars of St. Joseph's Church, Temuka. She leaves a husband, one son (Mr. W. D. Fitzgerald) and two daughters (Mrs. W. Barry, Ma Warn, and Mrs. T. Buckley, Arowhenua) .and thirteen grandchildren to mourn their loss. Two sons and one daughter predeceased her. She was attended in her last illness by the Rev. Father Kerley, S.M., together with his assistantpriests. On Friday morning the body was removed to St. Joseph's Church, where Solemn Requiem Mass was celebrated by Rev. Father Kerley, assisted by Rev; Fathers Goggan and Herring. The funeral, which was the largest seen 1 in the district for. some time, served to show the esteem in which she was held. The Hibernian Society formed a guard of honor and the pall-bearers, wearing the regalia of officers of that society, were uhree nephews of the deceased (Messrs. M. J., J. P., and T. Fitzgerald) and a son-in-law (Mr. T. Buckley).—R.l.P.