The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1882-01-27
r,,nara1 ~ rathar o,Donnen.

The funeral of the late Very Rev. John
O'Donnell, Vicar General of the Diocese OF
Portland took place at the Church OF the I'M
maculate Conception in Nashua, at 10 O'Clock
Wednesday forenoon. The body, which was
brought into the church on Tuesday afternoon
and lay in state in front of the altar, was
clothed in the robes which the deceased had
worn when celebrating mass, and in the hands
were placed the chalice. Thekcasket was satin
lined, and upon silver plate bearing the
cross and crown and mo Cross, No Crown, y
was the inscription:
Very Rev John ODonnell, V. c.,
ss Died January %, 1882,
Aged 81 years.
AT the foot of the casket was beautiful fe-
raj broken column, and upon each side pillows
inscribed "Rest' and also crowns. The church
was heavily .draped in mourning, bands OF
black and white being woven about the col
umns, stations of the cross, gallery, organ and
altar. Every available space in the church
was occupied and thousand or more persons
who were unable to gain admission remained
standing outside the church, although the mel
curry was below zero and the atmosphere sting
ing cold.
Among those in attendance were the first
citizens of Nashua, Hon. Edward Spaldlng
president of the board of education, Hon.
Charles Holman, w. w. Bailey, Esq, G. "
Dearborn, ESQ.,, Judge j. B. Fassett and all
the other members of the board, Superintend-
emit of Public Schools S. A. Bent. e. b. Pow
ers. master of the high school, and teachers in
all the grades and departments, local clergy
80 ao1arr rah q q
given to the distinguished citizens and Protest
ants and to the members of St. Mary's Catho-
lie Total Abstinence Society, which performed
the duty of guard of honor to the lodges OF the
Ancient Order and other societies connected
with the church.
From an early hour in the morning to the
hour of the funeral the people passed through
the church and took leave of the body. There
were many touching scenes, and it was not
alone the members Of the parish of which the
deceased was the honored pastor who shed
tears. Archbishop Williams of Boston, Bishop
Healy of Portland, and nearly all the pastors
and parish priests of the diocese (more than
thirty were present, and the choir OF the
Church of the ST. Aloysius chanted with
touching effect. Rev. j. E. Barry, v g., of
Concord, was celebrant, Rev Fir. O'Callaghan
of Portsmouth, deacon, Rev. FIR. Milette of
Nashua, sub-deacon, Rev. Fir. Bradley of Man
chester, master of ceremony.
At the conclusion of the requiem mass
Bishop Healy offered the prayer OF the
church for the repose of the soul, and then
spoke briefly to the congregation concerning
the virtues and worth of the deceased as a
priest, citizen and friend. The casket was
then borne down the centre aisle by six priests,
being closely followed by Archbishop Will
liams, Bishop Healy, priests, mourning friends,
societies and people, through the centre door
to the church-yard, where, in front OF the
northeast corner, and after blessing and
prayer, the body was lowered to its last resting
place by the first men of his church, more than
two thousand people standing with uncovered
heads and in silence till the grave was closed.
At meeting of the board of education OF
Nashua appropriate resolutions were passed,
and the new school shouse on Chandler street
was named "The O'Donnell Primary School,