The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-08-02
SISTERS OF MERCY
 MOURN DEMISE OF MOTHER SUPERIOR
Bishop Milan Eulogizes Late Head of Order, at Funeral
 Service

More than 400 members of the Sisters of Mercy in the Diocese of Hartford, including four priests from Bridgeport attended the funeral and paid tribute of respect and love to the Reverend Mother Fabian, head of the order in this diocese, and formerly connected with the, Sacred Heart school here. The services were held yesterday morning at St. Joseph's cathedral, Hartford.
 The Right Rev. DroJohn J. Milan. Bishop of Connecticut, was celebrant of the pontificial mass of requiem. The bishop spoke in eulogy of Mother Fabian and of her splendid record of service for the Sisters of Mercy. | The Right Rev. Monsignor Thomas s. Duggan, rector of the cathedral. was the assistant priest of the mass. The Rev. William H. Rogers, pastor of St. Patrick's church, and the Rev. Hugh Treanor of Waterville were dea- cons of honor. The Rev. Timothy M. Crowley of New London was deacon, the Rev. William J. Fitzgerald of Hartford, sub-deacon, and the Rev. William Downey of Thompsonville and the Rev Arthur Cavanaugh of Hartford, acolytes The master of ceremonies was the Rev. John G. Murray of Hartford. and the assistant master of ceremonies, the Rev. Will jam H. Flynn of Hartford.
 The Gregorian mass was sung by a Sisters choir of 50 voices, chosen from the several, communities in the state.
 Bishop Nilan's Eulogy.
 Bishop Milan, in his opening words. said it seemed almost a proclamation to lift the veil which for so many years had kept from the outside world the service of other, Fabian and the full appreciation of her remarkable personality and splendid life.
 I've know that from her tender years" said the bishop, "the love of LGod was in her heart. She longed to fully enter His service. A success full teacher, before she entered the sisterhood, her love and zeal were so marked that she was soon chosen superior of the Hartford community, and when all the communities of the State were merged in one governing body, she was elected mother superior of the entire diocese.'
 The bishop spoke of the deep sor- rows which filled the hearts of all the sisters in the entire diocese. A noble soul had gone, he said, to the place where death was not mentioned. Where He was seen face to face. It was natural that there should be mourning and tears and regrets.
 To this bereaved family of sisters Christ would not fail to come with a message of comfort. He would speak to the sisters and make clear the les son of the death of other Fabian when she apparently had many years yet in store.
 "He will teach you the lesson that life is not measured by years. but by deeds Her death will teach you to covet righteousness. Our Divine Saviour brings to us in the presence of death the lessdn that even if Mother Fabian be read she is yet alive. Death does not separate us."
 The bishop spoke of the belief of the sisters that God invited certain ones to take up his chosen work, and that they felt that Mother Ea- bian was especially called.
 The breaking of the home ties, to give all possessions and even to take a new name, to enter on a life of sacrifice, was what it meant to be Sister of Mercy. Mother Fabian, 9 he said, "and all of you present, be- lieved you were following Christ's ex- ample in taking the step which means so much. You felt that Christ wanted His work to go on, that the ignorant might be enlightened, the weak strengthened, the sick relieved and the orphan cared for.
 Those who have entered the re- ligious life, he said, realize that not until the tired body has laid down its burden will the reward be received in full" The bishop spoke of the training of the sisters and how they learned to curb the will, to spur the weary frame on to more labor. even though