OBITUARY

New Zealand Tablet, 7 July 1921, Page 39

OBITUARY

REV. MOTHER M. AQUINAS, SISTERS OF MERCY, AUCKLAND.

Great sorrow has befallen the community of St. Mary's Convent, Ponsonby, by the much lamented death of Mother M.Aquinas, on Saturday, 18th ult., when fortified by all the sacred Rites of Holy-Church, and surrounded by the devoted religious, she breathed her last (writes our own correspondent). The eldest daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. D. Lynch, of Auckland, she received her early training from the Sisters of Mercy, Ponsonby, and completed her education with the Dominican Sisters, Leeson Street, Dublin. Shortly after her return to her native city, she entered St. Mary's Convent, wherein for close on half a century she had been a devoted Sister of Mercy, deeply religious and gifted by rare talents for music and business. She has all these years been a veritable tower of strength to St. Mary's, and through many years had held the highest positions of trust in the community. The Solemn Requiem Mass was celebrated on Tuesday, 21st ult., at 9 a.m., in the convent chapel. The Right Rev. Dr. Liston was celebrant; Very Rev. Dean Cahill, assistant priest; Father Bradley, deacon; Father Curley, subdeacon; and Very Rev. Chancellor Holbrook, master of ceremonies. In the choir were the Right Rev. Monsignori Gillan, Hackett, and Ormond, Fathers Golden, Furlong, Brennan, Carran, Forde, Kelly, Edge, Finn, O'Connor, Buckley, O'Malley, Wright, and Lyons, Rev. Brothers Coluinbanus (Assistant General of the Marist Brothers), Denis (Provincial), Benignus, Calixtus, and Fergus, representatives of the various religious communities, and a large concourse of the' laity. At the conclusion of the Mass the Coadjutor-Bishop, in very feeling terms, preached the panegyric, and afterwards officiated at the graveside in Hillsbro' Cemetery, where the mortal remains of the venerable religious— Aquinas —were laid to rest beside those of Mother Alacoque, Mother Ignatius, and many other Sisters of Mercy, who have died in recent years. In New Street, the pupils of St. Mary's Convent and those of the Marist Brothers' Schools formed a guard of honor, whilst in the cemetery the orphans of Mt. St. Mary's (the Pah) were formed up under the direction of Father O'Byrno and the Sisters, to do a like honor to the memory and virtues of the much lamented Sister of Mercy.— Requiescat in pace.

MRS. HONORA LYNCH, HOKITIKA.

The death is recorded with regret of Mrs. Honor a Lynch, who passed away on May 1, at her residence, Hokitika. The deceased, who was a very early colonist, arrived in Dunedin in 1864, and was married there in 1866. Her husband (J. Lynch) predeceased her four years ago. Coming to Hokitika in 1866, the late' Mrs. Lynch had resided there ever since. The deceased was a native of Bansha, Co. Tipperary, Ireland, and was 78 years of age. Their family of five children, all married, consists of Mr. Michael Lynch (Greymouth), Mr. James Lynch (Christchurch), Mrs. Crowe (Nelson), Mrs. Boddy (Folding), and Mrs. Conrick (Wellington). The deceased was a very de- % vout member of St. Mary's congregation, and the funeral/ which took place on May 3, was largely attended. Rev! Dr. Kennedy officiated at the interment.—R.l.P.