OBITUARY

New Zealand Tablet, 21 April 1921, Page 35

OBITUARY

REV. MOTHER-MARIE DE RUDEVAL, CONVENT OF THE SACRED HEART, ISLAND 1 BAY, WELLINGTON. % Mother" Marie de-Rudeval, who passed away recently, was born in Normandy, December) 26, 1862. The death of her parents left her at an early age in charge of a- large, family of , brothers % and sisters, to whom she was a second mother. Notwithstanding her shyness and self-diffidence she became a capable business woman and acquired experience of the management of house and property - which enabled ; her ti render important services to her Order • later on. 't\ On June 26, 1889, she entered the Society of the Sacred Heart at Couflaus, s near Paris, where she made her profession on October 5, 1891. A few years later she went to Amiens, where Blessed Mother Barat had founded her first house. Here she was occupied in the management of the house and material employ-? ments and had the sad task of dismantling the house and taking care of it until in 1904 the final order of expulsion came. Fresh homes had to be found for the exiled nuns, and Mother de Rudeval with several companions arrivea in Sydney in November, 1904. The language was at first a difficulty, but very soon she was able to take the offices of assistant bursar and infirmarian and to be of great help to her superior. The last years of her lifel9l2-1921—were spent in New Zealand. In each of the "houses successively she had the same' offices !as at Sydney, and all owe her much gratitude for improvements made and skilful management. Her self-abnegation and delicate charity were remarkable. No trouble seemed too great if she could satisfy the least desires of her sisters or of the children. Her life, particularly in these last years, was one of patient suffering. To family losses during the war was added great physical weakness. It was, however, almost impossible to get her to accept any alleviation. Up to the eve of her death she made the Holy Hour on Thursday, though she had sometimes scarcely strength to go upstairs to her r00m.,. Many outside her religious family & will remember acts of charity done quietly, for hers was essentially a hidden life lived in the presence of God. She had asked Him to let her give everything she had in her and He seemed to have accepted her offering and satisfied her wish. The call came just as she was adoring Him exposed on the altar on the evening of the first Friday. She never regained consciousness, but received Extreme Unction and had been to confession and Communion in the morning. The last Sacraments were administered by the Rev. Father Mark Devoy, S.M., chaplain to * the convent. Solemn , Requiem Mass was offered at the convent chapel; Father Dignan, S.M., being celebrant; Father Griffin, deacon; ■■ and, Father Murphy, S.M., subdeacon. His Grace Archbishop O'Shea presided in.the sanctuary,; and ; there :: were also present Veil.' Archdeacon Devoy, S.M., Very & Rev. Dean McKenna, and all of the staff of St. Patrick's College and the city clergy, who sang the music of ; the Mass and Requiem. Father Gondringer, S.M., presided at the organ, and his Grace the, Archbishop . gave .. the . • absolutions. The 1 interment took place at Karori Cemetery. r The students of the convent and children of school lined the road from the convent out of respect to the deceased religious as the cortege passed along. ; Rev? Mother -de; Rudeval is the second of ; ; the religious ;of the Sacred 5E Heart to be inj terred at 1 Karori the first being the late Rev. Mother Hartigan.—R.l.P. otfoiei) ii-frijjsieiKl/;,"•