After
a long illness, borne with truly heroic Christian patience and
fortified by the last holy rites of the church of which he was
always a faithful member, John Albert O'Connor died at his home in
LaSalette on Wednesday, 24 Sep 1919, in the 37th year of his age.
His many virtues and
admirable traits of character endeared him to a very wide circle of
friends and made him always a general favorite, and highly esteemed
by all who knew him.
While his many friends
prayed devotedly and earnestly for his speedy recovery, he,
foreseeing the end, spent many months of his illness preparing for
the meeting of the Great Master of life and death. He was conscious
to the last moment, his spirit passing peacefully away, fully
resigned to the holy will of God.
Besides his sorrowing wife
and daughter, there are left to mourn his grief-stricken mother and
five sisters, to all of whom is extended the deepest sympathy and
greatest consolation of the entire community in their sad
bereavement.
The funeral, which took
place on Saturday morning, 27 Sep 1919 at 9.30 o'clock at St. Mary's
R. C. Church, was very largely attended.
Requiem high mass was
celebrated by Rev. Father Mahoney, at the conclusion of which the
pastor preached a most eloquent and inspiring sermon from the text,
"Many are called, but few are chosen. Come ye blessed of my
Father, possess the kingdom prepared for you."
He explained that after this
life of joy and sorrow Almighty God had a celestial home in heaven
prepared for all those who did His holy will in this life. After
all, that was the greatest consolation for all who had such a holy,
edifying death.
May his soul rest in peace.
