Obituaries Australia

Never did the inhabitants of the town of Windsor witness anything [funeral and interment] similar to the above, which took place on Tuesday the 5th instant. The procession from Mr Doyle's house to the churchyard was peculiarly interesting. The hearse was preceded by a number of children, vested in white and decorated with crape, one of whom walked before the rest bearing in his hands the cross, the emblem of redemption; this part of the procession was terminated by the officiating clergyman, dressed in splendid robes, and repeating the impressive service for the dead of the Roman Catholic Church. The principal of these gentlemen, the Rev. Mr Corcoran, had preciously arranged this leading part of the ceremony most judiciously, and superintended its progress to the place of interment; immediately after came the hearse with the remains of the deceased enclosed in a highly ornamented coffin–the pall was borne by six respectable colonists, including R. Fizgerald, of Windsor, E.q. : then followed a long train of mourning relatives and friends, amongst whom we noticed several gentlemen from Sydney, J. Norton, E.q., M. Roger Murphy, &c. &c. On the arrival of the hearse at the church yard, the coffin was borne to the vault on men's shoulders; the clergyman repeating the service to the door of the sepulchre, where the coffin was placed that the principal officiating clergyman, the Rev. Mr Corcoran, might recite the concluding prayers of the service, in which he was joined by the assembled multitude. The coffin was then lowered into the vault; thus closed a scene which pleased and edified all, especially such of us Protestants as happened to be present, and we were not few or inattentive.

The last months of this excellent man were spent in a manner worthy of a Christian; his devout demeanour, and fervent aspiration to be forgiven and united to his God, produced the best effects on all who had the happiness of witnessing this termination of his earthly career.

His will affords abundant proofs of his compassionate charitable disposition. The poor of Sydney and Windsor have not been forgotten.