Mary Immaculate Church, Waverley

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Mary Immaculate Church

St Charles Borromeo Parish, Waverley

Funeral – Elizabeth (Betty) Irene Ward

Funeral – Elizabeth (Betty) Irene Ward

Dear Parishioners,

Following the 10am Mass yesterday I received the sad news that Betty Ward passed away. Many parishioners will remember Betty as she dedicated over 25 years of service to our parish as the Sacristan. Betty retired from her ministry in April 2017 when her eyesight started to worsen following a fall in the Church in December 2016. Betty will be remembered as a faithful and dedicated member of our parish. She would open the church each day and be around to assi…st with the morning Mass and any other liturgies in the Church. Betty was a great source of information and would remind me (Fr Bernie) even after she retired, of things I needed to be aware of regarding feastdays, liturgies etc.

In 2018 Betty received the Dempsey Award from the Archdiocese for her many years of Service to the Church. Betty was an Old Girl of St Charles and St Clares and always had a great love for the schools – and was always keen to help the schools when they came to the Church for their special celebrations. Betty was known for her welcoming presence but her ever watchful eyes were always looking out for anyone who might be misbehaving in the Church also. Please keep Betty in your prayers and her surviving siblings, Phyllis and May, and her many nieces and nephews.

Betty had celebrated her 90th Birthday on Thursday the 8th of August (Feast of St Mary MacKIllop) and passed away on the 11th of August (the Feast of St Clare of Assisi). We pray today that St Clare and St Mary MacKillop now welcome Betty into the eternal reward that she so richly deserves. Eternal rest grant unto her O Lord, and Let perpetual light shine upon her. May she rest in Peace.

Betty Ward’s Funeral will be held at Mary Immaculate Church, Waverley on Friday, 16 August at 10:30am.

Fr Bernie Thomas, OFM