Obituary Notice
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Br. LEONARD O'Hagan (1868-1959) Brother Leonard of the Inmaculate Conception, known in the world es Henmey O'eagan was born on February 10th 1868 at Ahoghils Co Antrin, Ni. Irelani.s At an early age he emlurated to the United States where he ‘AAved for noarly a quarter of a century. In 1905 he returned home and entered tho noviciate at Nrondway where he waa professed on Boverber 23rd 1907. = For fifty yonrs he was employed 4n various offices in the Province ag gardener, cook and porter. For more than 40 years he was a mevber of the comnmmity at St. Joseph's letreat, Mehegnte, where he Lived @ somewhat solitary life of alternated prayer and work. Lor 2 yeara betore his death his health had been ateadily declining o5 a repult of senility, and a few conths before his death 4t became neccessary to send him to Tywford Abboy, London, Mel! 0 where he could be nursed profesmionnlly, ond there he died peacefully and resined on November 12th.1959. Brother Leonerd was & rererkable charactor. His years of service as & gentleman's valet hed given him an exceptional “savoir faire", and when he went out for his walk, always alone, he might hove been miesteken for a Bishop. The reactions to his death amon: the porishioners of 5t. Joseph's were astonishing. As many a6 possible attemed his funeral and many others oxpreased their regret that the domanisa of business made it impossible for then to attent. How Brother Leonard head cone to mean sa much to them waa intriguing. Actually his contacts with them. had seemed almost neglirible and one wondered just how oo many hed come to know him and love hire To some he had come to seem an inseperable adjunct of the churchy fectors cem) and Reators went Jub Brother Leonnrd seemed to go on imperturbebly for ever. He never entered into conversation with anyone but as he went about his duties oilontly end unobtrusively, he wovld sometimes momentarily helt and iupishly startle people by a shrewd remnrk, delivered almost casually and nonchalently, which revealed an unsuspected knowlodge of their persons am their lives. Innumerable were the stories exchanyod about hin after his death. Some hed been won by an unexpected word of aympathy or aoniolence spoken to them when thay imagined that he aid not evon know who they were. QOthera recorded his convise, shrew ani witty comments on pavgely: events. Brother Leonard had a remerkablo shrewdness and wits With the shrewd insight of Faith the people of the Perish sensed that his retired lifo of prayer and work, so devoid of worldly comforté and condolations, could have been maintained only by @ @ol4d and seep spirituality.
It 4s dovbtful 1£ anyone waa ever really on intimate terma with lirother Leonard, but in @yite of that mony stories will be told of hin for a long time te come and he will be remembered with admiration and affections Towards the ent of his lonr life ho suffered slightly from - delusions but before the end his mind regained ite former clarity and he died @ very edifyiryy death, melloved and resigned and glad to go home to the Master he had served so long ani ao faithfully. ft. Te Fe
Source: Obituary Notices, Provincial Archive, St Joseph's Province. Passionist Congregation.