Sr Joan Timpany

A story from Waiheke
"Burying Dick Hefferin"

When Clare & I arrived in Waiheke a man called Dick Hefferin lived at Palm Beach. Dick was an old man, well perhaps not so old, but he was very sick with emphysema. Our caretakers were Elizabeth and Michael O’Flaherty. Michael was a real Irishman, he was very much involved in the church and evangelisation, and he asked us if we would go and see this man. Dick Hefferin had been out of the church for 40 years, and he could die soon. Michael thought ‘these two nuns’ would be the ones to do something, to get him back to the church.

It was a wet and cold day and Clare and I were passing by, so we knocked on the door. Dick answered the door, he had his oxygen tank etc handy. We said that we were two Sisters who knew Michael O’Flaherty, and he welcomed us in. We told Dick that we had come to see how he was, , and asked if there was anything we could do for him. He seemed quite happy to speak with us, and as a passing shot I asked if he would like to see the Priest some time. He said “Oh no, no, not yet”. So that was alright, and off we went.

Well, months went by, and I said to Clare one day “We haven’t done much about Dick, we’d better go back and see him.” In the meantime Michael O’Flaherty had died, so we went to see Dick bringing that news. Dick said “Oh, I am sorry I wasn’t able to get to his funeral, but I was just so sick you see. But anyhow, thank you for coming to tell me about Michael.” He was friendly, and we had quite a chat, but never mentioned God.

Again months went by, and again I said to Clare “That man, it’s a miracle he is still alive, and we’ve done nothing yet.” So we went again to his house and knocked on the door. A beautiful gracious white haired lady answered, and she invited us to come in. Dick was sitting there, preparing a quantity of vegetables. The lady was Val, a number of her grandchildren were there too. We didn’t know anything about him having a lady friend! We reminisced together about the Irish club. Dick spoke of going to see the touring Irish ‘Riverdance’ show, but of course he wasn’t well enough. Anyhow, we had a lovely afternoon with Dick and his lady friend Val, who was thrilled to meet us.

Later that night we got a phone call that Dick had started to choke while eating his tea. Val rushed for the oxygen, there was a great panic, and then the crisis was over. Afterwards Val said “Look Dick, you could have died then. Now”, she said, “I promised Michael O’Flaherty that if you had a turn like that, I was to get him immediately, and not even tell the Priest first. So I’m asking you, can I get the Priest now?” Dick replied “Yes, you can”. “Well,” she said, “there’s another thing I want to tell you. I’ve wanted to be a Catholic for 8 years. My family are Catholic orientated, and I know quite a bit about the Catholic church.” Then she said “When Father comes to give you the last sacraments, I’m going to ask him if I can be a Catholic, and if he will baptize me.”

Father Peter Dunn was relieving in the Parish at the time. He came and administered the last sacraments, and then Dick was at peace after 40 years. Then Val asked if Father Dunn could baptize her at the church the next morning. Because Dick was so sick, Father said he would come to their home instead. “Do you know anyone who can be sponsors?” he asked, and Val said “The 2 nuns will do.” So Father Dunn called on us with the news of the impending baptism, and to arrange with us the matter of sponsoring Val. He said we could do the honours by proxy, but we wanted to be there! We baked a cake - using a good Invercargill recipe, we decorated a special candle and picked flowers etc. in preparation for the baptism next morning.

The next day we went over to Dick’s place. Val came in, radiant and dressed in a white dress, and a good number of her large family were there. We asked Val where Dick was. Val said “He’s in the bedroom.” So Clare and I went in to see him. We took one look, and I said “I think Dick is dead!” Clare said “I think he is too.” We spoke to Val, and she said “Oh yes, he died last night, just after Father Dunn had been. The children were all there, and he had a wonderful death. I rang the Doctor first, then I rang Father. As I got his answer phone I left a message to say that Dick had died.” Then before anything else could happen Father Dunn arrived to take the baptism, and of course he also asked after Dick. Val replied “Didn’t you know, he died last night. I left a message on your answer phone.” “Oh! I didn’t clear my messages” said Father Dunn.” Val was so excited about getting baptised that she seemed almost to have forgotten Dick lying dead in the bedroom.

So we proceeded with the planned ceremony. Father Dunn was a real ‘pre Vatican II kind of a man’, so the baptism service had all the prayers and trimmings, and then Val was able to take her first communion. Afterwards we began to celebrate, enjoying the cake and some wine. Then came a knock on the door. It was Richard, the Island’s undertaker. He had come to get Dick’s body! Richard was also the organist, he was going to arrange the liturgy as well as see to the rest of the funeral. As it was natural for us to help in this kind of event, again we became involved. Clare and I organised the liturgy, we chose an Irish reader, and we selected the hymns. It was going to be a great Irish farewell! The Waiheke people didn’t really know Dick Hefferin, and they were wondering why ‘the Nuns were taking over’. Well, we just happened to be there at the time, and were happy to assist.

So back at home, we made another fruit cake, and scones for the funeral mass the next day. A big busload of people came over on the ferry, from the Auckland Irish Club. After the funeral we were asked if we’d like to go back for a Wake at the Irish Club - that was an invitation we couldn’t refuse. We all caught the 3 o’clock ferry to Auckland, Val now in a lovely blue dress, and returned to the Island on the 9 o’clock ferry.

So that is the story of burying Dick Hefferin, and it could only happen like that on Waiheke!

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