Obituary Notice
This obituary notice has been digitally processed from a scanned archival document. Some words may be imperfectly rendered.
Br. GABRIEL Donnelly (1875-1935) ST.MARY'S RETREAT HARBORNE. BRO.GABRIEL (DONNELLY) Death has spared the Community of St.Mary's, Harborne, for nearly 17 years, but once more his hand has been felt in the death of Brother Gabriel of the Immaculate Conception, who died in Selly Oak Hospital in the early hours of Tuesday, May 14th. He had been a@ > member of this Community for nearly 8 years. Bro.Gabriel was born near Clogher, Co.Tyrone, on the 25th November, 1875, and thus had not yet completed his 60th year. He was known in the world as Michael Donnelly. Bro.Gabriel made his profession as a Passionist on the 30th May, 1900, at St.Saviour's Retreat, Broadway. In his early religious life he was stationed for a while at the Mother House of the Province, St.Joseph's, Highgate, and finally came to Harborne from St.Anne's Retreat, Sutton. Nearly 3 years ago he‘had an operation and from that time his health failed. He suffered much from blood pressure, and later from heart trouble and other complications. In the Spring of 1934 he was sent to Ilkley for a change, but returned after 6 weeks scarcely better. Then in the Summer of the same year he went to Ireland, breaking his return journey at Sutton, where he became worse a nd had to be treated in hospital at St.Helen's for some time. Eventually he was able, after 6 months absence, to return home to Harborne on the 15th January of this year.
Since then he was quite disabled and with difficulty went up and down stairs. At last it was thought that the end was drawing near and the last Sacraments were again administered, on April 30th. As his condition became even worse, he was again removed to hospital, where he died within a fortnight of his admission. Bro.Gabriel, being of an industrious nature, keenly felt his forced inactivity. During the earlier years of his residence at St.Mary's, he worked unsparingly in the garden, which was his hobby, as well as at various duties in the Retreat - where he was the only brother and where he shewed himself in every way willing and capable. He was interred in the private cemetery at St.Mary's on May 16th, after a Requiem Mass attended by the Rector and Community. iors of Veer Sea fe Rector 16th May, 1935.
Source: Obituary Notices, Provincial Archive, St Joseph's Province. Passionist Congregation.