Obituaries Australia

On Sunday afternoon last the sad and unexpected death of Mr. T. J. [Timothy Joseph] Kearney occurred at his residence, 'Ettridge', Waverley. The deceased gentleman, who was 60 years of age, had been ailing for a few weeks past, but was so improved on Saturday last that the members of his family held the most sanguine hopes of his ultimate recovery.  However, a relapse occurred on Sunday, and he passed quietly away in the afternoon. In his last moments he was fortified with the consolations of religion, being zealously attended by the Very Rev. Fathers Begley, O.F.M., and Kennedy, O.F.M. The late Mr. Kearney was the only son of Denis Kearney, a well-known and highly-esteemed Catholic citizen of Sydney in the early days; his only sister is Mrs. C. J. Ryan, of Burwood, whose son, Mr. T. D. Ryan, is a practising solicitor at Bingara, and whose daughter, is Sister Aloysius, of the Ursuline Community of Armidale. The deceased leaves a widow (who was the eldest daughter of the late John Trim, one of the earliest settlers at Armidale) and a family of 12—eight boys and four girls. Two of the latter are married— one to Mr. S. Gardner (at Newcastle) and one to Mr. G. H. McKerrow (of Messrs. Hoffnung's). The oldest son of the deceased is Mr. S. J. Kearney, of Armidale (solicitor), who was elected as the member for Armidale in December last at a by-election, and at the recent general election was again returned as Armidale's representative. The late Mr. T. J. Kearney was educated at the old Sydney Grammar School and at Lyndhurst College, He was articled to Mr. R. P. Abbot, and served his clerkship in Sydney and Armidale. For many years he practised his profession in Glen Innes, and removed to Armidale, where for 17 years he practiced with success, gaining high repute for his legal knowledge and professional ability, subsequently taking his son into partnership, and after two years retired from business and came to Sydney to spend the evening of his days.

The Armidale 'Express' says: 'In the death of Mr. T. J. Kearney the State has lost a cultured man in comparatively early life. The late Mr. Kearney often contributed to the columns of the 'Express' and his writings were always characterised by moderation and telling force.

From the arrival of the late Bishop Torreggiani in Armidale the deceased prelate and Mr. Kearney were on the closest terms of friendship, and during his residence in Armidale Mr. Kearney was the occupant of the office of diocesan solicitor, and in all Church matters a prominent Catholic. When the Redmonds and John Dillon visited Armidale some years ago Mr. Kearney took an active part in furthering the cause of Home Rule, and was ever a zealous supporter of the movement to advance Ireland's claims of self-government. Throughout his illness the deceased had the careful attention of Dr. Lamrook, of Waverley.— R.I.P.