OBITUARY

New Zealand Tablet, 25 April 1918, Page 22

OBITUARY

MOTHER MARY ALPHONSUS (OWENS), O.S.D. - -' Mother Mary - Alphonsus Owens, who passed away in perfect peace at Holy Rosary Convent, Oamaru, last week, was a member of a well-known and highlygifted Limerick family. Forty-four years ago she made her vows in the Dominican Convent, Sion Hill, Blackrock, Dublin. On the day of her holy profession Mother M. Alphonsus decided to sacrifice country and friends and work for the interests of her Divine Spouse in far away. New Zealand. Here she spent the greater part of her life in promoting higher education. The deceased nun had lived abroad with her family during her early years, and her exceptional brilliancy enabled her to benefit fully by the educational advantages which fell to her. Nature had bestowed on her a very beautiful voice; modern languages were no trouble to -her; her literary attainments were'of a very high order she was assuredly the least gifted of her family. The two brothers of Mother Mary Alphonsus entered religions - Orders; the elder became a Dominican friar and died young ; the elder, Monsignor Owens, as well as her only sister, predeceased her by some years. During the latter part, of her life Mother M. Alphonsus devoted herself with great zeal to the instruction of converts — a work for which she had a special attraction. Her kindly manner and quick sympathy never failed to win the affectionate confidence of those who came to be taught the truths of Catholicity. The same endearing qualities kept a circle of warm friends devoted to Mother Alphonsus all through her life, and many will hear with sincerest sorrow that when they next visit St. Dominic’s she will not be there to give them the greeting they appreciated so truly, but they will assuredly offer fervent prayers for the speedy entrance of their devoted friend into her eternal home.—R.l.P.

MR. BRYAN FLYNN, CHRISTCHURCH. On Saturday, March 30, there passed away at his residence, 49 Bishop Street, St. Albans, at the age of 75 years, one of Canterbury’s pioneers in the person of Mr. Bryan Flynn. Born at Headford, County Galway, Ireland, in 1843, he sailed for New Zealand in the ship Chariot of Fame, which, after a protracted voyage, arrived at Lyttelton on January 29, 1863. Here the lafe Mr. Flynn secured employment with Messrs. Holmes and Co., contractors for the construction of the Lyttelton .tunnel, and he was amongst the first to make the trial trip through the completed ■work. He also worked on the construction of the West Coast Road, and with Messrs. Holmes at Holmes’ Bay. He was married by Father Chervier on October 22, 1874,- at Rangiora, to Miss Sarah Lynskey. Out of eleven children, seven survive him—four daughters and three soils. . One daughter is Sister Frances, of the Convent of the Sacred Heart, Island Bay; another is Sister Ursula, Convent of Mercy, Christchurch. Two sous are farming in South Canterbury, whilst the other, Bryan, is serving with the Expeditionary Forces in Palestine, having seen service in Egypt. The laic Mr. Flynn was not only well known, but most highly respected as a hotelkeeper, having followed that calling in Christchurch, at Ashley, and at Waimate. At Ashley he spent some 23 years of his life, and was ferryman at the ford prior to the erection of the railway bridge. As a business man he was most successful, and in farming, which he entered info in his later life, was very practical. Mr. Flynn was always an ardent and most devoted Catholic, and a generous benefactor to the Church. His many services in this respect are cherished memories in the different districts in which he resided. Nothing gave him greater pleasure than rendering some service to the Church, and he took a special interest in the purchase of the new convent property for the Sisters of -Mercy at Riccarton. Many letters and telegrams of sympathy were received by his sorrowing widow. Requiem Mass for the repose of . his soul was celebrated on Wednesday, April 3, at St,- Mary’s Church by the. Very Rev. Deal),

Regnault, who also spoke feelingly of the many good qualities of the deceased. A large number of relatives and friends of the deceased were present. - The remains were conveyed to Rangiora for interment, and many journeyed there in the funeral procession. ' The Very Rev. Dean Regnault, assisted by Very Rev. Dean Hyland, officiated at the interment.R.l.P.