The Newtown bee., 1901-04-19
The NeWtOWn Bee
CIRCULATION
TOWN TOPICS,
MARY AGATHA DEAD
800
1915

| FEW DAYS ILLNESS
THROUGHOUT THE STATE AS THE
FOUNDER OF THE MIDDLETowN OR.
DER OF SISTERS OF MERCY.-FOUND.
ED ST MARY's CONVENT OF EAST
BRIDGEPORT, WHERE SHE TAUGHT
FOR YEARS
| News of the death of Mother Mary
Agatha, a member of the Middletown
branch Of the order of Sisters of Mercy
was received at St Mary's convent in
| Bridgeport, Monday, where the de-
ceased was stationed at the time of her
demise. Her death occurred at 10
Monday morning at the convent in
Newtown, where she went April 4, to
pass the Easter holidays. Although
not feeling in robust health at the
time of her departure, she did not COM
plain. She decided to take advantage
of the closing of school for short rest
in the bracing atmosphere of New
town, and became the guest Of Mother
Mary Berckmans at the Newtown
convent.
1t was cold, rainy day when she
left, and she caught a severe cold on
the way. DR. Thomas Martin of Bridge
port was summoned, and under his
treatment she showed steady signs of
improvement. 1t was not until Thurs
day of last week that her illness as
sumed serious turn. Sunday evening
word was received from Mother Berck-
mans that the patient was resting
comfortably, and her complete recov-
cry was regarded as assured. Early
Monday morning her heart began to
fail, and DR. Martin was summoned.
Before he reached her side she had
passed away, fortified by all the sacra-
ments Of the church, for whose well
fare she had labored SO unselfishly and
untiringly practically all of her active
life.
Mother Agatha was practically the
founder Of the Middletown order of
Sisters of Mercy. She lived to see it
grow from a humble beginning to pro-
portions that place it on footing with
almost any similar order in the East.
Her family name was Boland, and she
has brother, missionary priest in
Brooklyn. When Father Rogers, up
wards of 20 years ago, decided having
completed his new church-to establish
a sisterhood here, he arranged to have
the MiddletOwn order locate in the pa
rochial residence he was about to leave
the old St Mary's church in
Crescent avenue and Church: street.
Mother Mary Agatha, then in the
prime of womanhood, was selected as
the first mother superior of the new
house. She surrounded herself with
an able corps of teachers, and shortly
after her coming, St Joseph's academy
was founded, the old church having
been altered for school purposes. Here,
at the head of the sisters, the deceased
labored for years. Many of the more
prominent of the local Catholic young
men and women of the generation once
removed from the children. of to-day
received their early religious and Sec
ular education under her supervision.
She was a singularly lovable person,
refined and gentle in her bearing, and
patient to a degree. With her, for
bearance was indeed virtue, and al
though she was often compelled to re-
sort to strict discipline in the enforce
ment of the school rules, her attitude
withal was that of the mild, prudent
preceptor rather than that of the
Steiner advocate.
AS teacher she was thorough and
finely balanced; as woman, she was
true daughter of the Nazarene, in
whose cause she enlisted at an early
age, and to whose service her life's
work was consecrated. During her
active career she had filled every office
in the order, being for several terms
reverend mother, the title accorded
to the superior over all. She had
charge of the advanced pupils at St
Mary's convent at the time of her
death. Monday evening the Children
Of Mary met at the convent to make
suitable arrangements for the funeral.
The deceased was the organizer Of this
society. -[Bridgeport Farmer