DEATH OF SISTER M. REGIS WARD BLENHEIM.

New Zealand Tablet, 1 April 1920, Page 28

DEATH OF SISTER M. REGIS WARD BLENHEIM.

Sister M .Regis, whose death occurred at St. Joseph’s Convent, Blenheim, on March 18, was born at Foxly Farm, Shropshire, England, in June, 1846. She was the daughter of the late Mrs. C. L. Ward, one of the pioneers of Marlborough, and a cousin of his Grace Archbishop Redwood. On completing her education,, which she received from the Loreto Nuns at the Bar Convent, St, Mary’s, York, she came to New Zealand with her eldest brother, Mr. Joseph Ward, and the Hailes family of Kaikoura, the late Mrs. Hailes being her aunt. She came on to Marlborough, and spent some time in attendance on her valid mother until 1875, when she entered the Convent of Mercy, St. Mary’s, Wellington, where she 4 labored during the long years in the interests of the little ones so dear to the Sacred Heart, to which, like the Loved Disciple, she ever clung. She bore her last illness as well as those hidden sorrows and trials of which life is full, with heroic patience and fortitude, for, like all noble souls, she had well learnt the secret of suffering and never forgot the divine beatitude “Blessed are they that mourn.” She carried the cross laid on her by the Great Master faithfully to the end. She will be much missed by the members of her community, to whom her kind, amiable disposition rendered her dear. May she rest in peace. Her funeral took place on Saturday, the 20th ult. The Solemn Requiem Mass was celebrated by the Rev. Father Henry, S.M., the incidental music being rendered by the Very Rev. Dean Holley, S.M., Provincial, assisted by the local clergy and male members of St. Mary’s Choir. An appropriate sermon was preached by the Rev. Father O’Reilly, S.M., who also officiated at the graveside.— R.I.P.