PASSING OF THE DEAD.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 July 1922, Page 5

PASSING OF THE DEAD.

FUNERAL OF DEAN McKENNA/ AN IMPRESSIVE CORTEGE. TRIBUTE FROM LARGE CROWD. The love and esteem in which the lato Very Rev. Dean McKenna, of New Plymouth, was held was reverently borne testimony to yesterday morning when the last sad rites in connection with the Dean’s death and burial were observed. At 10.30 the solemn requiem mass was held at St. Joseph’s Church, and long before the appointed hour the church was filled with those anxious to pay their last respects to the deceased, pastor. The church in which the Dean had labored so long and so devotedly was crowded to the doors when the celebration of the requiem mass began, many mourners being unable to gain admission. The interior of the church was draped in black around the walls and. pillars, and secured until white ribbon. The mass was reverently and impressively sung, the celebrant being the Very Rev. Dean Power, Hawera, who had been a friend of the late Dean for forty years. The Rev. Father V. KeMy, Ohura, and formerly of New Plymouth, was deacon, the Rev. Father Fay, Wellington, sub-deacon, and the Rev. Father M. Devoy, Island Bay, Wellington, master of ceremonies. Clergy were present from throughout the Wellington archdiocese, those present at the requiem, mass, in addition to the above-men-tioned, being: In the chair, Rev. Father Malony (Wellington), organist, Dean Holley (Wellington); the Rev. Fitzgibbon (Levin), Menard (Okato)., Griffin (Johnsonville), Kennedy (Efcetahuna), J. Kelly (Manaia), Doolaghty (Opunake), Sweeney (Taihape), Jemisty (Jerusalem, Wanganui River), Dillon. (New Plymouth), Saunderson (Pahiatua), Butler (iKil'birnie), Moran (Hawera), Mahoney (Wanganui); in the sanctuary, Rev. Fathers McManus (Palmerston North) preacher. Maples and Tracey (Stratford), Cahill (Patea), McLoughlin (Mosgiel College), Prendergast (Opunake), Reardon (Greenmeadows), J. and N. Moore (Eltham), Dean McKenna (Newtown), Rev. Fathers

Daly (Dannevirke), Harnett (Taihape), O’Dwyer (Feilding) and Powell (Mar« ton).

EXAMPLE OF SELF-SACRIFICE. Following the singing of the requiem mass the Rev. Father McManus delivered an eloquent panegyric on the ]ate Dean, whom he said had shown a great example of self-sacrifice throughout his life-work, three years of which had been spent at Hawera and the last thirtythree years at New Plymouth. When the Dean first came to this district, said the speaker, there were in some parts neither roads nor bridges, but the Dean had overcome difficulties which were wellnigh insurmountable in order to perform his sacred duties. The Dean had always sought the welfare of his people, sacrificing himself in their service. He had always worked faithfully to serve his God, and the best monument that hist sorrowing parishioners could erect was a monument of love and affection in their hearts for their deceased pastor. The speaker added that the whole priesthood of the archdiocese mourned, in the death of Dean McKenna, the loss of a true friend and wise counsellor.

Father McManus feelingly referred to the Dean’s late years, saying that his feebleness of body was in a large measure due to the faithful and self-sacrrfi-' cing manner in which his early labors had been spent. In his last years the Dean had been fighting against death. The speaker called to mind, in concluding, the vision of the Dean as he celebrated his last mass in St. Joseph’s,, stating that this should be an inspiration to them and condemn them when they made excuses, because of illness or of pressure of work, and did not attend mass.

On emerging from the church yet greater tokens of the esteem in which the Dean was held were provided by the large ci*owd of sympathisers who lined the footpaths near the church. The long procession formed up, the acolytes in their white robes leading the way, followed by the priests in their vestments, the children of Mary in blue cloaks and white veils, the convent and. St. Joseph’s school pupils, and the sisters. Then came the hearse with the pall-bearers (Messrs A. McHardy, M. Jones, F. Henderson, J. T. Mannix, J. Bennett and J. O’Shea) in attendance.

A LENGTHY CORTEGE. ’ A large bodyguard of the Hibernian Society, with green sashes, followed immediatly behind. The church committee followed c' ise behind the hearse, then came the parishioners on foot, and last of all a procession of about sixty motor cars. The solemn procession, half-a-mile in length, proceeded slowly down Devon Street and climbed the hill on the other side. It was a most impressive cortege and completely filled the hollow in the centre of the town from the Poet Office to Liardet Street. Business premises closed their doors as the funeral processior passed, the shop and office: staffs assembling on the edge of the pavement. The procession continued along Devon Street to Watson Street, where it turned towards the cemetery. Here the casket was borne to the Roman* Catholic portion on the right, where the final service of committal was conducted by the Very Rev. Dean Power, assisted by other clergy, and the coffin was lowered into its last resting place. A fine tribute to the memory of the Dean was paid by representatives from other religious bodies who assembled al the point from which the processior started, some following the hearse whilst others gathered at the cemetery. Thus did the . parishioners of St. Joseph’s and the citizens of New Plymouth pay their last respects to Dean McKenna, who was so universally esteemed and whose memory will long be cherished.