MR PATRICK KELLY
RENFREW MERCURY
JANUARY 28, 1887
The funeral of the late Mr. Patrick Kelly (whose death on the afternoon of the 20th inst. was announced in our last issue) took place on Saturday, the 22rd inst. After the coffin, which was followed from his late residence by a general gathering of the residents of the Village, had been borne into the Church of St Francis Xavier, the announcement was made that the corpse would not be removed thence until the afternoon. This was to allow time for deceased’s sister to arrive from Toronto. High Mass was in the meantime celebrated by Rev. P. Rougier. In the afternoon, there was another large assemblage of residents, which was swelled by the attendance of many friends from the surrounding country; so that for the second time, within a week, a very long funeral procession of sleighs was seen on Main street. The pall bearers were Messrs. J.J. Devine, W. O’Connor, M. Fitzmaurice, C. Enright, T. Leacy, and M. Devine.
Deceased was a native of Ireland, from the vicinity of Dublin. For some time after his arrival in Canada, he was engaged at the Conroy lumbering establishment in Aylmer, on the Ottawa River. Afterwards he was in charge of their place at Bonnechere Point. Then he removed to Renfrew some five-and twenty years ago; being at first engaged in clerking and storekeeping; but for many years past in the hotel business, at the stand called the “British Lion”, but more generally known as “Kelly’s hotel”. (Considerable improvements of this property have only recently been completed.)
The deceased liked to take a share in public affairs, and when personally interested, to make himself seen and heard at public meetings; but his chief inclination seemed to be in the direction of politics and as the local guide and leader of the Conservative party. Whatever he undertook was done with all the ardour of the Irish character. Anyone who differed from or opposed his views at such times might be sure to get his opinion, not infrequently in vigorously denunciatory terms. But when the occasion was past, and his mind had been eased by the freedom with which he had expressed his sentiments, he would before long again become quite friendly and sociable with his late opponent. He was also ready to help those who, through misfortune, needed assistance; and through his business connection had a very wide circle of friends. He leaves a widow, but no children, to mourn his loss. He died at the age of 58 years.