The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1890-05-02
Miss Ellen C MURRAY.

Death has again invaded the much
stricken family of Mrs Dennis Murray,
her daughter, Miss Ellen, suddenly ex-
piring on the morning of April Is. Her
death, though not unexpected, was sud-
den in its coming. She has been ailing
for over a year, but remained at her post
of duty until about the beginning of the
year, when she could no longer attend to
her duties and so returned to her moth
er's house to die. Here she gradually
wasted away and waited patiently for
the call, which to her had no terrors. 1t
came; and she was ready to yield up her
spirit. Her mother had only left the pa
TENTS room for II moment to call the sis
ter, Miss Julia, to take her place at the
bedside and the latter reached there only
to see the parting shiver and hear the fl
nal gasp of dissolution. 1t was peace
full death.
The funeral obsequies occurred ut st
Rose church, Wednesday forenoon and
consisted of II solemn mass of requiem,
the highest honor the church can pay Il
lay member. Father +. j. Kennedy, Gu
rate of st Rose. acted as celebrant of the
mass, Father Gibbons of New Britain as
deacon, Father NJ. j. Creagh of Ansonia
as sub-deacon and Father O'Connell of
Bridgeport as master of ceremonies
while Father J. c. O'Brien of Bridgeport
preached the funeral discourse, which
was an earnest, soul-felt tribute of ven-
GRAFTON for the virtues of the unassuming
dead lying before him at the altar rail.
Besides the Rt. Rev Bishop Mcmahon,
who came too late for the services at the
church and those mentioned, the follow
ing clergymen attended and followed the
remains to the last resting place in st
Rose cemetery, beside her dead brother:
Fathers J. F. Rogers of Bridgeport, Doc
Ian of Cornwall Bridge, Lynch of Port
land, Mill of Bridgeport, Walsh, Down
ey and Lynch of Danbury. The latter
vice over the body being performed at
the church by Father Donohue, pastor
of st Rose.
The members of the choirs at Da injury
and Newtown, as well as representatives
from Bridgeport and elsewhere, attended
and joined in the choral responses of the
mass and all sang exquisitely, for the
thI OBJ of each heart was felt in the tenor
of the voices. The deceased had been
their friend, as well as musical director
At the offertory of the mass, Miss Mar
celia Walsh of Bridgeport sang "Sweet
spirit, hear my prayer and during the
viewing of the remains ''Jesus, lover of
my soul, - in very feeling manner. The
floral offerings were profuse and elegant.
Chief among them were "Gates Ajar,"
with the motto Rest from st Peters
choir, Danbury; broken column and a
cross, with "Sister,'' from the family,
besides handsome offerings from J. F.
Brennan and others.
Miss Ellen Murray was born in this
town 3S years ago and was eldest daugh-
ter and second eldest child of Dennis and
Ellen Murray, the former since deceased.
Her parents were among the pioneers, as
well as hest known Catholics of st Rose
parish. OF this family of seven children,
four SONS and three daughters who grew
to mans estate, only one sister, Miss
Julia, and three brothers, Michael, Thorn
as and Dennis, survive; Mrs Mary A.
Martin, Il younger sister, and Father Ed
ward Murray, n beloved, sanity brother,
having passed away within two years.
The mother, although in feeble health,
survives this third invasion of death in
her household and the sympathy of the
community is with her in her last dire
bereavement.
! Miss Murray was educated ia the town
schools, both public and the Academy,
afterward finishing her education at the
convent in Winsted. She was success
full school teacher, both in her native
town and in Bridgeport, until physical
i weakness incapacitated her, when she
became teacher of music and acted as
organist in various places besides st
Rose, her last engagement being at st
Peters at Danbury, where she had been
for several years and where death stole
upon her and put an end to life of sac
rifice and suffering, but life not wasted.
The pail bearers were Maurice Colgan,
Richard Healey, NJ. j. Houlihan, Nj. j..
Cavanaugh, M. J. Bradley and j. f.
Brennan. Undertaken p. i. Heating had
charge Of the funeral. The casket was
of white brocaded velvet and the burial
robe of cream colored satin, producing 4
remarkably appropriate and beautiful eff
4 feet.