Obituary Notice
This obituary notice has been digitally processed from a scanned archival document. Some words may be imperfectly rendered.
9 3. Bro. Stephen of Holy Mary. Died January 15 in St. Joseph’s Retreat, London, England: Province of St. Joseph. This estimable Brother of ours had always such a strong constitution, that he seemed to be exempt from every disease and weakness, never having been sick in all the years of his life. At the very end of his long career he was stricken for four days with his first, and last ailment. On January 11 he was attacked with pneumonia, and on the 15th he died. Quiet and peaceful was his life; equally peaceful and quiet was his death, strengthened and consoled by all the sacraments and. blessings of Holy Church, and surrounded by his sorrow-stricken brethren. This child of blessing was born at Cloun- cloher, County, Limerick, Ireland, on January 18, 1835, of a very well known and respectable fam- ily. His parents were John and Anne Jayes, and in baptism he was named after his exemp- lary father. In his youth, he left Ireland with several of his companions for Australia, where he was employed in thé gold mines. He soon realized that while striving after the gold of this world he might easily forfeit eternal riches, so he left the mines and returned to his native conn- try. In Dublin he met a young man who enjoyed the reputation of being a distinguished journal- ist, and’ they both agreed to leave the world and become religious. The journalist became Father Columban, famous as a missionary in St. Jos-
10 eph’s province, and his companion, the subject of this sketch, made his profession as Brother Stephen of Holy Mary, ou January 26, 1860. He was first sent to St. Ann’s, Sutton, Lan- cashire, where he lived until 1876, and then he was transferred to London, wliecn (save for a brief stay in Dublin), he remained thirty years, till the day of his death. Wherever he was stationed, he always strove to be a good Passionist. Most punctual at.all-the acts of public observance, he wag like- wise most careful in the various offices entrusted to him. He never lost his time, for he detested laziness. Generally he acted as porter, all his life long, and easily acquired the regard of all those with whom he had to treat, his manners being exceptionally cordial. Toward his fellow religious likewise, he was ever affable and oblig- ing; hence they loved and respected him and sincerely mourn his loss. 4. Bro. Venantins of the Holy Ghost. Died January 18 in the Retreat of Our Lady of Grace; Presentation Province. This good Brother was born on May 19, 1834, at Cesano, in the diocese of Camerino, Italy, of Nicholas Pagonelli and Teresa Leonelli. He was clothed with our holy habit at Morovalle, chang- ing his baptismal name of Joseph to Venan- tius. He made his profession on November 3,
Br. Stephen Hayes (1835-1906) 7 poo ae _. Obituary Notice of Brother Stephens On the 16th January of this year 1906, Br.Stephen of the Blessed Virgin (Heyes), departed out of this lifes His death was . peaceful and heppy, and took place in the midst of his sorrowing Brethren whe were assembled around him, and offering up the prayers for 3) departing soul, His illness Was short. —On-the lith January he went for his ustiel welk, end on that evening he felt unwell] end had to teke to his sick bed, from whidi he never ercse, His disease developed into Pneumonia, which soon beceme so serious thet on the second day after his illness he received the last Secrements with great devotion, Fervour, and resignation to the divine will, After this: the religious wetehed by his bed-side night and day until the evening of the 16th, when he expired Without e stfuggle and with the prayers and sentiments of a good religficus. _ Br. Stephen wes born at Clouneloher, Co,Limeriek, Irelend, on _ the 18th danuary 1835, His perents.were John end Anne Hayes, cf a Well known and highly respeeted family, He received in Beptism the name of John, and in his ehild“hood end youth, like ell the Trish - ¢hildren of his dey, he reeeived sound religious instruetion in ell his duties,’ and was aedustomed to the gtriet observance of his reli- gious duties ase devout Oetholia, - When grown up to manshood, he with meny other young men. left ‘Jrelend for Austtelia, where he laboured for some yeers and with — finaneial suecess in the gold-diggings, but e life in the world did not satisfy him, and dis¢ontented with the manner of life in Australia ‘he réturned to Treland end settled down in bueiness in Dublin for ¢
short period. During thet time hé made the acque intance of the Rev, Fr, Columban O'Greay, who Was then a jeurnelist, end afterwards 2. Passiontst, and a well known. migsionery in these countries, Both entered about the seme time the Novitiete of the Pass oniete at St. Saviour! s Retreat, Broedwey, Worcestershire, where he made his religions profession on the 26th Tentary 1860, After his religious profegion he wes ‘sent to St,Anne's Retreat, Sutton, St .Helen' By ‘where he wes stationed for fifteen years, during which time he wes engaged in the duties of questor for the Comminity, and fulfitied cis well many domestie duties in the Retreat. He wes well known to the priests end people of the dicceses of Liverpool and Salford, and edified ell by his exemplary. life, so thet he wes esteemet and loved by 6112 of, them. even toa the day of his death, Jn the’ Autumn of the year 1876 he Wes appointed to 8t, Joseph! s Retreat, Higheate, where he had been etetioned from thet time forwe rd, with the exception of 6 shore period apent in St. Peaul's Retheat Mount ‘Afpus, Dublin.s In Highgate hé hes aeted as porter for neerly 80 years, end tn that offiee he wes elways kind end eonsiderete to the poor, and affable and courteous to all visitors, ALi respected him, and with goad reason, for he was ever the true friend and religious brother, Besides acting as porter he fulfilled other duties in the Retreat with the most constent care end industry, ever concerned about the well being of the house end of his religious Brethren, He was alweys oceupied with some useful work, and those whe heve lived. with him all those years can testify thet they never knew him to be 8 momént idie., He wes e@ most observant man and faithful to the Rule whieh he hea profesed, end thet for the lone period of 46 yeers of 4
his Pagsioniet life. He enjoyed good health during all those years, and Wes never known to heve hed « serious illness until thet to which he sueeumbéed, | ° His loss ig felt by all, and especially by the relirious Communi ty whieh he essisted so weld and edified so mueh by his exemple and virtues during his long ana leborious life, | His death wes whet might be expected, the, rewerd of e good religious Life, He Was seved the suffering end weeriness of 2 long iliness, and Wes blessed by the reeeption of the Sserements of the Chureh, end by ell the prayers and comforts whieh religion cen afford to a soul on the solemn oecasion of its deperture out of this life, May he rest in pepee,
Source: Obituary Notices, Provincial Archive, St Joseph's Province. Passionist Congregation.