We acknowledge here members of the Secular Franciscan Order of Great Britain who have gone to their eternal reward.
Would fraternities please send information to your Regional Secretary, so that this may be passed on to the National Registrar, and so to the website. Simple information is fine, but brief “obituary” style details would be good.
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Eternal rest give unto them, O Lord. And let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen. May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace. Amen.
ANNE THERESA SIMMONDS ofs who was led away to God by Sister Death on their 58th Wedding Anniversary, 3rd August 2022, Submitted by her husband Bro. Michael ofs
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The North West Region sadly has lost three Franciscans. Joan Cassidy of Flint Fraternity, Nora Baker of Chorle Fraternity and Frances O’Brien of St Anthony of Padua Fraternity.
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Kathleen Bernadette Reed ofs died on 19th July 2019, a OFS member of Leeds Fraternity.
Kathleen was professed on 23/04/1979 at Parish of St Joseph Castleford, Diocese of Leeds. She should have celebrated her 40th as member of OFS.
At the fraternity meetings, Kathleen being a gentle prayerful soul radiated peace. She had stayed in a local care home for the past six months, as her health deteriorated.
Kathleen’s funeral is on Tuesday 13th August at 12.45pm, St Joseph’s church, Castleford, Martin Street, Pontefract Road, Castleford, WF10 4JB
May the perpetual light shine upon Kathleen, may her soul rest in peace.
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Our dear brother, Michael Hagger ofs died on Wednesday 5th June 2019
The Funeral of Michael Hagger will take place on 11 July at 12 noon St Thomas’s Canterbury.
If anyone would like to write a reflection on their memories of Michael, it would be greatly appreciated as he was known to so many of us for a very long time.
May he rest in peace.
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Mary Sharp ofs died on the 23rd September 2018. Mary had been poorly for sometime and was in hospital towards the end. She had been a Secular Franciscan since 1972 and had been in Brighton Fraternity for many years and came to Hollington after they closed. She was one of the founder members of the Hollington Fraternity and was the Minister until we were established. Mary looked forward to coming to our meetings and towards the end she still managed to come occasionally and she is sadly missed for her wisdom and experience.
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Our brother, Donald Jones ofs, who has been a loyal, joyful, happy member of Bedford Gospel-to-Life fraternity for over 40 years, died peacefully on 3rd July 2018, having been attended by Canon John Koenig from St. Edwards, Kettering. His funeral will take place at St. Edwards Church, 2 the Grove, Kettering, NN15 7QQ on WEDNESDAY 25TH JULY 2018.
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Joan Margaret Quinn ofs died on January 26th, 2017. She was part of the former Consett Fraternity. She was aged 84 years.
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Jennie Laferty ofs of York (North East region) fraternity, died on the 2nd June 2016. She was professed on 4th July 1984 and born on 12th October 1921. Jennie has a very positive outlook in life.
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Fee (Felicitas) Ratcliffe ofs of the Hertford (London region) fraternity, died on the 29th May 2016.
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Judith Spellman ofs of Scotland Region, Bl John Duns Scotus Fraternity (Glasgow) Fraternity, died on Saturday 30th April 2016. Judith was professed in the Leeds Fraternity (North East Region). Around 1994 she and her husband moved to the Isle of Mull where she lived until her death.
Although Judith was not always able to attend fraternity meetings due to travel compliactions, she was an enthusiatic and committed member of the Order. Judith contributed generously and tirelessly to the regional life of OFS Scotland. She held office as Regional Formation Minister, she regularly took part in meetings and Assemblies and visited other fraternites. From 1999 she produced and distributed a regional newsletter: ‘Porziuncola’. Her energy was infectious! Many of you will have met Judith at National events and will have enjoyed her company and her fraternal spirit. All of us are poorer without her. May she rest in peace.
Please keep her husband, Alan, and all her family in your prayers.
Here is a photo of Judith at the National Chapter of Mats in 2014 with other members from Scotland.
Michael was very active and committed to his charities. He prayed outside the abortion clinics among other activities. Tirelessly he conduct fund raising and last year with his team raised £5,000 for Mary’s Meals.
We remember his family in our prayers, his wife Irene, and Katie and Stephen his children.
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Joan King ofs of the Hertford (London region) fraternity, died on the 25th March 2016 (Good Friday).
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Nora Cyril ofs Our dear sister Nora Cyril ofs, of the Stratford fraternity, London region, died on Tuesday 29th September 2015, the feast of the Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael. Nora was professed as a secular franciscan in 2009. She died wearing her Tau.
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Gwen Neri ofs Gwen Neri passed away on 10th September 2015. She was a professed member of Plymouth fraternity, South Wales & South West Region. Although unable to attend for years she prayed every day from her ofs handbook.
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Anne and Bob Power ofs Anne Power of the London region, Stratford fraternity (and formerly of the Woodford fraternity), died on Thursday 3rd September 2015. Her funeral will be held at the Church of St Anne Line at South Woodford on 29th September at 11am. Anne was professed as a secular franciscan over 53 years ago. Her husband Bob Power (03/08/1920 – 11/05/2015) died earlier this year, on 11th May, and had been professed for over 62 years. Both were long-standing members of the St Anne Line parish of South Woodford.