Rev. Michael J. O'Dwyer

We now go over to 1908 when Father O’Dwyer died after a long illness. Father Moriarty, who had been an assistant for many years, was called back to Elmira to take over the duties of the pastorate during Father O’Dwyer’s last illness. The following account of Father O’Dwyer’s death was carried in the Daily Advertiser of Feb. 23, 1908:

“REV. MICHAEL J. O’DWYER AT LAST FALLS UPON SLEEP”

The Rev. Michael J. O’Dwyer, who for over twenty-six years past has been the pastor of St. Mary’s Church on Franklin Street on the Southside died yesterday morning at 9:30 o’clock.

Dr. J.C. O’Brien, who has been attending Fr. O’Dwyer in his illness saw early yesterday that there was small hope of his living out the day and he remained constantly with him until the end. Death was due to debility and extreme weakness, the result of his advanced age.

The Rev. Fr. Moriarty, who recently succeeded Fr. O’Dwyer to the parish of St. Mary’s administered the last sacraments of the church to Fr. O’Dwyer.

It has been arranged to have the body lie in state in the parish house of St. Mary’s today. Tomorrow afternoon at 4 o’clock the body will be taken to the church.

Survivors

Fr. O’Dwyer is survived by brothers John and Philip in Ireland and one sister, Mrs. Uriel in Ireland. Fr. O’Dwyer was born near Nenagh, County Tipperary, Ireland about eighty years ago.

His Life Work

He spent some years in the Irish College in Paris. Here he prepared for his life’s work and later he went to Algiers in company with Marshall McMahon, here he attached himself to the Marshall’s Staff and remained several years.

In the year 1863 he came to America and was adopted into the diocese of Buffalo by Bishop Timon. He was ordained in 1866 and since that time has been a resident pastor at Newfane, French Creek, Warsaw and Elmira.

Upon coming to this city, where he has been the pastor of St. Mary’s Church parish for twenty-six years, he made many improvements. His energetic ways, his ambitions and his friendliness build up his church parish and was soon a man of weight and standing in the community. He made many friends and was held in the highest respect by the people of the city, and especially by the people of his parish who knew him best.

He worked tirelessly among his people and his heart was warm to those in need and to those who needed consolation and help.

Infirmities of Age

During the last two years, the infirmities of old age began to tell upon the remarkable vitalities of Fr. O’Dwyer. Gradually he yielded, realizing that his life’s work was over. His death will be universally mourned among the people of this city and the priesthood of the city will keenly feel the loss of the aged and venerated priest.

The funeral will be held Wednesday in St. Mary’s Church at 10:30 o’clock. It has not been decided whether the body will be buried in this city or in Buffalo.

An account of the funeral of Father O’Dwyer was carried in the Advertiser.

“FUNERAL OF LATE REV. FATHER O’DWYER”

Surrounded by all the sacred symbols with which the solemn services of the Roman Catholic Church manifest the ritual of the dead, the body of the late Fr. Michael J. O’Dwyer, rector of the parish, laid in repose this forenoon before the Blessed Altar. In the hands of the priest were clasped a crucifix, and beads, beretta on the head, and the body clothed with the vestments peculiar to the priestly office.

There was present in evidence a vast throng of people, and those who could not find room to sit were content to stand, so great was the reverence for the ceremonial, and so deep their regret, and so earnest their grief for the Father who could speak to them only by the voice of the past and by the memory of all the work of his priestly life.

It was a solemn high mass of requiem. The Right Rev. Thomas F. Hickory, Coadjutor Bishop of Rochester, and Bishop of Bernice was present was the direct representative of Bishop McQuaid.

In rendition of the Mass the Coadjutor Bishop was assisted by forty priests. Among them were the Rev. J.J. Bloomer and J.B. Stemmlar and Father Moriarty successor of the late Fr. O’Dwyer, as pastor of the church.

The bearers were John M. Connelly, Thomas J. McInerney, Jerry Bergan, Paul G. Kingston, John F. Murtaugh and Daniel F. Sheehan.