HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1994-04-06, Page 5Obituaries
r Walton correspondent reveals
mystery neighbour's name
REV. JOSEPH O'ROURKE
A well-known priest who was
born near Dublin and served in
parishes in Clinton, Blyth and
Stratford died on Saturday, April 2,
1994 at the age of 82.
The Rev. Joseph L. O'Rourke,
former Pastor of St. Joseph's
Roman Catholic Church in
Stratford, entered into eternal. life
on Saturday, April 2, 1994.
Father O'Rourke was born July
19, 1911 in McKillop Township
near Dublin. Son of the late Mr.
and Mrs. Patrick O'Rourke. He was
a member of Si Patrick's Parish,
Dublin, attended Beechwood Ele-
mentary School, Dublin Continu-
ation School and the Stratford Col-
legiate Institute. His Bachelor of
Arts Degree was received at the
University of Western Ontario prior
to entering St. Peter's Seminary in
London, Ont. He was ordained to
the priesthood on June 11, 1938 and
was made Curate at St. Marys
Church in Tillsonburg where he
served until 1945 when he was
given the pastorship of Si Cecilia's
Parish in Port Dover. While there,
he watched the missionary church
of St. Michael's being built at
Walsh and served as its pastor. In
1951 he began serving St. Joseph's
Church in Clinton until 1953 when
he was given a Pastorship at St.
Joseph's, Sarnia. In 1955 Father
O'Rourke became parish priest at
St. Joseph's Church, Stratford and
served there until 1968 when he
retired. Father O'Rourke celebrated
50 years in the priesthood on June
11, 1988. At four of his five par-
ishes, Father O'Rourke was a build-
ing priest who constructed new
parish halls, rectories and churches,
often sawing boards and hammering
nails alongside the professional
carpenters and contractors. During
his base in Clinton, Father
O'Rourke also served at St.
Michael's parish, Blyth, a mission.
During his time as parish priest at
St. Joseph's Church in Stratford he
built the parish hall and rectory,
renovated and decorated the church
and constructed the Convent for the
Loretta Sisters (a building now used
by the L'Arche community). He
was instrumental in a spiritual and
advisory capacity regarding the
• purchase of property and building at
St. Michaels Senior School (now
Jeanne Sauve), St. Ambrose, St.
Joseph's and St. Alysius Schools.
Properties purchased on Momington
and Devon Streets in the early
1960's under Father O'Rourke's
leadership in anticipation of expan-
sion and the need for a Catholic
High School were later sold to
finance the purchase of the site that
now is St. Michael's Secondary
School. Father O'Rourke not only
helped construct new buildings, he
helped build on the spiritual values
of the parish. He himself said, "I'll
always remember the spirit of the
people at St. Joseph's and the coop-
eration they gave because of their
deep faith and conviction."
When he retired in 1968, Father
O'Rourke built his own house on
O'Loane Ave. in Stratford and
continued to serve on the building
commission of the London diocese
which involved travelling through-
out the diocese approving building
plans and inspecting new construc-
tion. He frequently helped out when
needed at the Parishes of Grand
Bend, Kinkora, St. Joseph's and
Immaculate Conception, Stratford.
For the past several years Father
O'Rourke has resided at Hillside
Nursing Home, RR 5 Stratford.
Father O'Rourke was the last sur-
viving member of his immediate
family. He was predeceased by his
parents Patrick and Margaret
(Roach) O'Rourke, brothers Lewis,
Wilfred and Joseph (in infancy),
sisters Rita (Mrs. John Flannery)
and Florence (in infancy). He is
survived by a brother-in-law John
Flannery, Stratford and nieces and
nephews.
Friends called at St. Joseph's
Roman Catholic Church in Stratford
on Tuesday, April 5. Mass of Chris-
tian Burial will be celebrated on
Wednesday, April 6 (today) at 11
a.m. As expressions of sympathy
donations may be made to the Rev.
Joseph O'Rourke Education Fund
and may be made through the W.
G. Young Funeral Home, 430
Huron Street, Stratford.
JOHN TURNER
John Turner of 11 James St.
Seaforth, died at Stratford General
Hospital April 2, 1994 in his 67th
year.
John Turner beloved husband of
the former Maria (Madgi). Dear
father of Maria Toper and friend
Jeff Stone of Oshawa; Joseph Toper
and his wife Andrea of Seaforth
and Elizabeth Rightmycr and her
husband Randy of Scaforth; Chris
Tumer of Lindsey; John Turner of
Asia, and Janet Turner of London,
England. Also survived by eight
grandchildren and three sisters,
Babs Robson, Joan Cartwright and
Joyce Smith, all of England.
The late Mr. Turner was born in
Catcrick, England on March 20,
1927. A private family service was
held on Tuesday, April 5 at the
Whitney-Ribey Funeral Home, 87
Godcrich Si. W. Scaforth with Rev.
Gordon Redden officiating.
LLOYD J. CAMERON
Mr. Lloyd John Cameron of RR 2
Staffa passed away at St. Marys
Memorial Hospital on Wednesday,
March 30, 1994 in his 65th year.
He was born at Woodville on
November 11, 1929 a son of the
late Alexander Cameron and the
former Mary Elizabeth Sproule.
On August 11, 1951, he was
married to the former Rhea Beach.
Mr. Cameron was a butter maker
by trade and managed the Staffa
Creamery until its closing in 1970.
Later he was a tax consultant with
the Farm Business Consultants. He
served as a leader and District
Commissioner of Boy Scouts for
over 30 years and was one of the
Founding Fathers of the Cromarty
Ball Park.
Surviving besides his wife are
two sons Bill Cameron of RR 2
Staffa and Ritchie Cameron and his
wife Denise of Gananoque, three
daughters Mary Ryan and her hus-
band Joe of RR 2 Dublin, Cathy
Lozier and her husband Gary of
Fullarton and Barb McCaughey and
her husband Fred of RR 2 Staffa,
two brothers William Cameron and
his wife Marie and Hughie
Cameron and his wife Wilma, all of
Woodville, one sister Edna Antino
and her husband Bill of Watrous,
Saskatchewan and eleven
grandchildren. He was predeceased
by a sister Bernice Jones.
Friends were received at the
Lockhart Funeral Home, Mitchell
where the funeral service was held
on Saturday with Irene Richardson
officiating. During the service,
Amazing Grace was sung by Jen
and Jackie McCaughey accom-
panied by Carol Ann Scott. Scrip-
ture readings were read by Karina
Vessie, Jason McCaughey, Bill
Ryan, Curtis Vessie, Bill Cameron,
Chrissy Ryan, Joe Ryan and Denise
Cameron. Ed Jack, a business asso-
ciate and friend delivered the
eulogy. A Colour Party with repre-
sentatives from the 1st Cromarty
Boy Scouts was in attendance and
with representatives from the
Stratford Gilwellians formed a
Guard of Honor outside the Funeral
Home. Cremation.
LAWRENCE RYAN
Lawrence Bernard Ryan of RR 4
Walton passed away at Seaforth
Community Hospital on Sunday,
March 27, 1994 in his 87th year.
Lawrence was a retired farmer
who had lived his whole life in the
Walton area. He was an active
member of the St. Ambrose R.C.
Church in Brussels.
He is survived by his wife, the
former Marjorie Elizabeth Reid.
Loving father of Joan and Don
McDonald of Montreal, Robert and
Barbara Ryan of London, Gerald
and Anne Ryan of Walton, Jim and
Betty Ryan of Brussels, John and
Marianna Ryan of Walton, Nelson
Ryan of Walton, and Sister Teresa
Ryan of Peru.
Mr. Ryan is also survived by 19
grandchildren, 9 great
grandchildren, and two sisters
Florence Speak of Woodstock and
Eileen Scott of North Dakota. He
April Birthdays: April 1 - Tadd
Smith, Alec Gulutzen; April 2 -
Ruthie Uyl, Steven Gibbons; April
3 - Krista. Shortreed, Jason
Gulutzen; April 6 - Colleen
McCallum; April 7 - Janet Mitchell;
April 8 - Kevin Wilbee, George
Love, April 9 - Marie McGavin;
April 10 - Don McDonald; April 11
- Shannon Craig and Steven
Leonhardt; April 14 - Mitchell
Blake; April 21 - Amanda Mitchell,
Betty McCallum; April 23 - Stan
McClure; April 24 - Darrell
McClure; April 26 - Margery
Huether, April 27 - Graeme Craig
and Steve Gibbons.
Anniversary - Donna and Stan
Clore - April 10.
If you haven't guessed who the
mystery neighbour is, it's Bruce
Clark. The first person to guess was
Paul McCallum. Your next mystery
neighbour is a woman who was
born at home in down town Walton
quite a few years ago. She was
delivered by Dr. McNaughton. She
was the only girl in a family of four
children. One brother joined the
navy, one died as a teenager and
the other stayed in Walton and
farmed. She went to Stratford to
Teachers College. That's all I will
tell you for now.
The place to be was Walton on
March 29. There were vehicles
lining the streets in every direction
as people gathered for the Farm
Machinery Auction at Jean
Kirkby's.
Easter weekend tends to be a time
when many families get together for
special meals. Mary Humphries
served her family a nice ham din-
ner. Viola Kirby treated 14 mem-
bers of her family to Sunday
Brunch at the Brussels Hotel. Doug
and Marg Fraser got away to Lon-
don to have an Easter meal with
their children. The Banks family
went to Mt. Vernon to Rev. Banks
parents for their Easter meal.
On Thursday, April 7, part two of
the video series, 'How to talk so
kids will listen' will be shown at
Duff's United Church as we con-
tinue our Neighbourhood Coffee
Hour. It will begin at 9:15 a.m.
with Laurie Brubacher demonstrat-
1
Walton
by Patty Banks
8R7-6Rfil)
ing how to make small stretch
paper ribbon wall hangings. Every-
one is welcome to come.
The U.C.W. will meet Wed.,
April 6 at the Church at 8 p.m.
Greeter at Duff's United Church on
Easter Sunday were Jim and Mary
Mann. The church was decorated
with Easter Lilies and the Easter
Banner was hung up on the wall.
Phyllis Mitchell and Glenda Carter
played familiar Easter hymns while
people settled into their seats. Rev.
Banks welcomed everyone and then
JoAnn McDonald and daughter
Kelly lit the Christ candle and read
the liturgy.
The choir loft was filled to the
brim as both junior and senior
choirs sang today. The kids did a
wonderful job of singing, 'He Bor-
rowed a Cross' featuring Kenny
McCullam as the soloist, and the
senior choir sang 'Alleluia He is
Coming' and also sang the Benedic-
tion. Rev. spent time with the
children showing them first a
homemade caterpillar and then the
cocoon.
"We are a people of faith, but we
are also enamoured with the world
of science and verifiable hypoth-
eses. We find it hard to prove to
non -believers something that is so
abstract (Resurrection) and so con-
trary to the laws of nature".
WALTON SCHOOL NEWS
Erich Lenz brought his hamsters
to school. They had a big cage full
of climbing tubes. There were three
hamsters in total. One was white
and his name was Fuzz. The other
was brown and white and her name
was Sarah and the last one was
white and her name was Sally. The
next day Devon McCutcheon
brought his hamster named Patches
to school. We also learned how to
blow the yoke out of eggs and then
we pasted colored paper on them.
Reporters Trisha McClure
and Geoffrey Banks
was predeceased by two sisters,
Marie and Madelaine; three
brothers, Jim, Joseph, and Gordon;
two granddaughters Mary Alice and
Pam. Mr. Ryan rested at the Betts
Funeral Horne in Brussels till 11
a.m. Wednesday, March 39, 1994,
when Reverend Father Joe Nevitt
officiated the Mass of Christian
Burial at St. Ambrose R.C. Church
in Brussels.
Scripture readings were read by
granddaughter Monica Ryan and
daughter Sister Teresa. Offertory
gifts were presented by granddaugh-
ters Peggy Ryan, Madelaine Ryan,
and Jo -Ann Adamski.
Pall bearers were grandsons Joe
Ryan, Stephen Ryan, Paul Ryan,
Chris Ryan, Greg Ryan, Scott
Ryan, and Brian McDonald.
Spring Interment will be in St.
Ambrose R.C. Cemetery in Brus-
sels.
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