OBITUARY

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXIII, Issue 29, 20 July 1905, Page 20

OBITUARY

VERY REV. J. SHEEHAN. WiMi much regret we record the demise of the Very Re/. John Sheehan, pastor of Riverton, who passed away dn Friday last, July 14, at the parochial house, Riverton. For the past three years the deceased had been under medical tircatment for a complication of ailments, the moat insidious of which was Bright's disease, which during the past six months reached a more acute stage, producing a cardiac affection, accompanied at times by severe fainting fits. Despite^ however, the critical nature of his ailment, Father Sheehan pluckily fated the severe physical strain of parochial work and continued in harness practically to the last. He even rose from his death-bed to celebrate Mass on the second Sunday before he passed away. The Bishop was inconstant attendance on him for the three last days of his life, and he received the consolations of religion from the Rev. Father Lynch, of Invercargill, on the day preceding his death. The Very Rev. John She<*han was born in G-arna-villa, County Tipperary, Ireland, ir 1851. He received his early training for ihe sacred ministry in the famous monastery of Mount Melleray, Ireland, during the' years 1866-t). In the lasl-mentioned year he proceeded to St John's College, Waterford, wh«re for six years he pursued with much success the higher studies preparatory for the priesthood, and was oxdained priest in 1875. In the same year he came to the diocese .of jDunedih. For some two years he was attached to St. Joseph's Cathedral. He was then appointed to the pastoral charge of the extensive parish of Ophir, which comprised the present parishes of Ophir and Ranfurly. In that pastorate of generous distances he labored with -zeal and fr itfulness for 23 years. In 1900 he was transferred ,to Ri.ertcm, where, as already recorded, he passed away on the 14th instant. Father Sheehan was gifted with a ready wit, and, under a somewhat rugged exterior, he possessed a mind that was richly stored with wide and varied reading, and a goodness of heart and ready sympathy which won him many warm friends among people of every cla^s and creed. This was especially the case in the pastorate of Ophir, im which by far the greater part of his priestly life was spent. There were few dry eyes in the congregations to whom his death was announced on last Sunday in Central Otago, ami large contingents of his former parishioners there made the long and cold journey to Dunedin to pay their la,st tribute of respect to his memory. The remains were brought by train from Rherton to Dunedin on Monday, accompanied by the Bishop, many of the clergy from the South, and representatue Catholic laymen from various parts of the Riverton parish. The body was escorted by some twenty of the clergy and a considerable body of laity from the railway station to St. Joseph's Cathedral On Tuesday morning a solemn Dirse and Requiem Mass were celebrated for the repose of his soul. The celobrant was hid Lordship the Bi^op ; assistant priest, Monsignor O'Leary ; deacon, Very Rev. J. O'Neill (Milton) ■ stilMieaeon, V.rv Rev. P. O'Donnell (Gore); master of eerc^ monies, Rev. P. Murphy, Adm. The cantors at the Office wefe Rev. H. W. Cleary and Rev. J Liston. The music of the Mass was beautifully rendered by the Dominican nuns. In addition to those already mentioned Ihe following clergy were also pu-esant'- Very Rev. Dlean Burke (rmercanyll) Rev. A. MacMullan (Ranfurly) Rev. P. ODea (Ophir), Rev. G. Hunt (Alexandra), Rev' J. Ryan (Oromwell), Rev. James Lynch (Palmerston) Rev. John Lynch (Invercargili), Revs. P Delany, M.' Ryan, a<nd D. Bucklev (Mosgiel), Rev. J. McGrath (Tapanui), Rev. P. O'Neill (Winton), Rev. P. O'Neill (Annanldale), jßev. J. Coffey (South Dunedin), Rev P Hcarn (Gore), Rev. M. Howard (Port Chalmers), Rev. J Geary (Lawrence), Rev. W. Corcoran (South Dunedin) Rev J O'Reilly (Oamaru), and Rev. J. O'Malley (Cathedral)' The remaining clergy of the diocese were precluded from attendance by ill-health or by the pressure of sick duty in remote parts of their missions. The funeral cortege left St. Joseph's CatAedral at 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday and proceeded to the Southern Cemetery, where the Interment took place. A" large concourse of people followed the remains to theit last resting-place. The ceremonies at the graveside were conductor! by his Lords-bin the Bishop, assisted by the clergy mentioned above.— R.l. P. MR. JOHN SHANNAHAN, GREYMOUTII. Our Greymouth correspondent reports the death of one of the West Coast pioneers in the person of Mr John Shannahan, who passed away on June 10, at the age of 73 years. The deceased was on the West Coast In the early days, and engaged in gold mining.

About twenty years ago he settled down in business in GreyniQuth, where he lived ever since. The deceased was of a most genial and charitable disposition, and always ready to lend a helping hand to those in distress. The late Mr. Shannaihan left a widow, nine sons, and two daughters to mourn their 1 oss" .—R.I. P.