Obituaries
There is a light that will never go out...
It is with deepest regret that we announce the following death:
Joan Hyland
St. John’s, Bromley Cross, Bolton conference regret to have to announce the sudden death on 10th August of Joan Hyland.
Joan joined what was at the time, the ladies section of the conference in the 1970’s. When that section merged with what had been the male only conference in the mid 1980’s. The ladies with Joan prominent among them, were quickly recognised as a considerable asset to the conference and within a year or two Joan undertook the role of Secretary which she graced with a combination of competence, wit and flair for the rest of her life.
Some 20 odd years later, and having just celebrated her 91st birthday, Joan decided with some clear reluctance to relinquish the secretary-ship but the good Lord spared her any prolonged misgivings over the decision and took her to Himself just two days after. She had taken the minutes at what was to be her final meeting.
To the end Joan retained a sharpness of intellect and wit which would have done credit to someone half her age. She was a lady of strong and independent character, bearing testimony to a combination of having sustained the death of her mother when aged only seven having raised her young family in the immediate post-war years and then having been widowed for the past 34 years, as well as her unwavering Catholic faith.
With characteristic thoroughness, Joan had planned every detail of her Requim Mass, burial and subsequent proceedings. These were all naturally implemented faithfully by her son, daughters, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Joan’s fellow conference members are saddened by the loss of such a loveable lady but count ourselves blessed to have been able to have her with us over the past 20 odd years.
(W.A. Callaghan, St. John’s Conference Bolton, Manchester)