Obituary Notice
This obituary notice has been digitally processed from a scanned archival document. Some words may be imperfectly rendered.
Gerard Power 1879 - 1946 BROTHER GERARD (POWER), C.P. Just a week after the death of Brother Denis, the Province of St. Patrick lost another familiar figure when Brother Gerard (Power), C.P., after an. illness of many months, was called to his everlasting reward on May 7th. Born in Kilquade, Co. Wicklow, on October 20th, 1879, Thomas Power was twenty-six years of age when he entered the Passionist Novitiate at Broadway, Worcs. After his religious profession on March 20th, 1908, he was a member of the communities at Highgate, London, and at Broadway until he was finally transferred in 1919 to St. Gabriel's Retreat, The Graan, Enniskillen, where he was a familiar figure for almost thirty years. His chief duty was to train the lay-brother novices in cooking, and every Brother Cook can still remember his first steps in culinary knowledge under Brother Gerard's able tuition. Indeed his patience must often have been sorely tried by the awkwardness of succeeding generations of novices who were sent in turn to "help" in the kitchen. But Brother Gerard's smiling good humour never varied, whilst he maintained his imperturbable demeanour despite domestic mishaps. A keen cyclist, Brother Gerard was a familiar figure on every high-road for miles around Enniskillen. His regret was apparent when advancing years compelled him to restrict his favourite exercise. But for the most part Brother Gerard preferred the seclusion and the retirement of the monastery. At community exercises, his reverent demeanour and recollected air indicated his deep piety. He supported the severe sufferings of his last illness with exemplary patience, and accepted death with edifying resignation. R.LP. (The Cross, Vol. XXXVII, 1946-47; p. 47)
Source: Obituary Notices, Provincial Archive, St Joseph's Province. Passionist Congregation.