Mood:
sadTopic: In Memoriam
EXTRACT OF THE HOMILY AT THE
FUNERAL MASS OF MRS. JOAN BROWN
One cannot imagine a home without a mother. So when a mother passes away the home feels very empty. It can never be the same.
We have all gathered together in this Church, so many relations and friends of Joan and of Melvyn, Warren, Sabrina & Paula to fill this emptiness in their hearts by our prayers and presence.
I would like to thank Melvyn on behalf of the Fathers, staff and students of St Xavier’s for a whole life of committed service to the college. When I joined College in 1959 as a fresher the image of him as Library Asst. still endures among my lingering memories.
All the visitors from India and abroad who visited the Goethals Research Centre and Library were full of appreciation for Warren as a very courteous and competent Library Asst.
A tree is judged by its fruit. From the fruitfulness that has emanated from 3,Elliott Road in the work of Melvyn and the careers of Warren and Sabrina, now well settled abroad, we know all the prayers, sacrifices, tears and guidance of a mother that went into it.
When you, Warren and Sabrina migrated it must have caused a wrenching pain and emptiness in her heart. Today as Mummy leaves home you also experience some of that tearing pain and emptiness.
Indira Gandhi once said that the contribution of the Anglo-Indian Community to national life in India is far greater in proportion to its numbers. The same can be said of Melvyn : his contribution to the Anglo-Indian Community and the Church is far greater in proportion to the scarce facilities and means he has at his disposal.
They say that behind every great man is a great woman. Joan made possible Melvyn’s documentation on the history of the A.I. community and his newsletters; his work with the Catholic youth in the Ambassadors for Jesus; his newsletters of the AFJ to promote Catholic unity; untiringly propagating the devotions to the Divine Mercy and to Our Lady; his work for poor A.I. families at Christmas and Easter…….
Today we thank God on the passing away of a wife and mother whose prayers, sacrifices, tears and care have been like a fruitful vine bearing much fruit. She is now at home with Jesus, Mary, her parents, family and friends where there are no more tears, no more pain and no more sadness but only the joy of a faithful servant sharing the joy of her Master.
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
