Lives Remembered

19 February 2010

Brother Noel O'Dwyer OFM was born on May 23 1925. He died on January 24 2010, aged 84.

In the early hours of Sunday, Brother Noel O'Dwyer departed this life to go to his heavenly home.

He had spent his last years in St Francis Nursing Home, Glasgow, where he was cared for by the Franciscan Minoresses and died as a member of the community of Blessed John Duns Scotus in Ballater Street.

He still visited there once or twice a week until the last months of his life. Noel O'Dwyer was born in Newcastle, Co Tipperary. The youngest of 11 children, he was baptised Richard.

He entered the novitiate at Chilworth in 1946 and was ordained in 1953. He was a Guardian in Glasgow and Gorton and in 1975 he was elected Minister Provincial and served in this office for nine years.

Later he was appointed general visitator in Malta and South Africa. After a short time as Guardian in Ipswich he returned to Glasgow in 1985. At the funeral Brother Noel's body was brought to the friary at Ballater street, Glasgow, on the morning of Sunday, January 31, and the coffin was left open in one of the public rooms for private visits and prayers.

On Sunday evening the coffin was solemnly conveyed into the church and placed overnight at the side of the altar. Brother Michael Copps, Minister Provincial, presided at this ceremony and welcomed the many members of the O'Dwyer family who had come to be present. On the following day the funeral Mass was celebrated at 11.30 am by the Minister Provincial in the presence of the archbishop, who assisted at the faldstool.

There were many priests from the archdiocese and from the Franciscan Province who concelebrated the Mass and assisted at the burial which took place immediately after the Mass at Dalbeth cemetery followed by a reception at St Francis church hall.

Fr Walter Hobson, Franciscan friar, was born on April 24 1919. He died on February 9 2010, aged 90.

Fr Walter Hobson, Franciscan friar, died in the early hours of February 9. Fr Hobson was born in Crewe, Cheshire. He made profession as a friar 72 years ago in 1928.

On February 24 he would have been ordained for 65 years. He was a good and a holy man. He served in Woodford, in Manchester, Liverpool and Glasgow. One of his great loves was the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession), and he was sorely missed when he had to relinquish this. He also spent some time at Hatch End Catholic Radio Centre, working with the friar Bishop Agnellus Andrew.

Fr Hobson's body was to be brought to St Thomas of Canterbury, Woodford Green, on February 18. The Requiem Mass, celebrated by Fr Michael, Provincial Minister, was expected to take place today, February 19, with burial in St Patrick's, Leytonstone.