1937-2014
Words of Remembrance for Brother Edward Conway, FSC
Given by Brother David Rogers, FSC
Composed by Brothers Carl Clayton, FSC, and David Rogers, FSC
December 2, 2014
Mass of Christian Burial
La Salle University Chapel, Philadelphia, PA
It is my honor to offer a few words of remembrance about Brother Edward Conway, a good Brother and a dear friend.
Ed was a man who had more than his share of challenges and difficulties in his life. All of which he dealt with as best he could, and seldom with a complaint.
I first met Ed in the novitiate at Ammendale where he did much of the reading during meals because it was felt that if he often read out loud he would conquer his problem of stuttering. This stuttering continued when he moved on to Elkins Park. Reading out loud didn’t seem to help. Yet there was never a complaint from Ed.
His first assignment was to St. John’s for speech therapy at Catholic University. Later, when he was asked to fill in for an absent biology teacher at St. John’s, he found that he had very few problems with stuttering in the classroom. What a blessing!
Ed then moved on to spend thirteen years at La Salle College High School, where he taught biology and was athletic trainer for the football and basketball teams. It was during these years that the students gave him the nickname, Brother “Rock.” Of course they knew that while Ed could be gruff on the outside, he was really quite soft on the inside, and they liked him.
Ed’s next move was to be a campus minister at South Hills Catholic in Pittsburgh, and later at West Catholic and St. Gabriel’s Hall. Counseling in various forms became a second career for Ed. It was during this time that he earned certification as a drug and alcohol counselor. He filled this position for nearly ten years here at La Salle University, until he was hit by a stroke. While the stroke seemed to leave Ed in good shape physically, it burdened his brain with aphasia, often making it difficult for him to find the next word in a sentence he was starting to say. This challenge required much therapy for the rest of his life. Once again, there was seldom a complaint from Ed.
Ed tried to make good use of the retirement that was imposed on him by the stroke. He pursued his love for opera and classical music. He often traveled near and far, sometimes with his family with whom he was very close, and sometimes with Carl Clayton and me. We enjoyed his company!
During this past Labor Day picnic at La Salle High School, Ed spoke of a chest pain, like acid indigestion. As we now know, the pain was cancer, serious cancer. Ed handled this challenge as he had handled others: no complaints. When he was told that medical treatment would be of little help, Ed put himself in God’s hands and let nature take its course. He spent his last days in the care of the Brothers at De La Salle Hall and with the frequent support of his loving family. He died peacefully in his sleep.
May the Lord grant eternal rest to you, Ed, and may perpetual light shine upon you. May your soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
Please pray for the happy repose of the soul of Br. Edward Conway, FSC
Born James Edward Conway in Philadelphia, PA, on June 14, 1937
Entered the Ammendale, MD, Novitiate on October 15, 1955
Received the Religious Habit and Name, Brother Emery Lawrence, on February 1, 1956
Pronounced Perpetual Vows in Ammendale, MD, on August 29, 1962
Br. Edward died at De La Salle Hall, Lincroft, NJ, on Sunday, November 30, 2014
FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS
Monday, December 1, 2014
Viewing from 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm
De La Salle Hall
810 Newman Springs Road
Lincroft, NJ 07738-1608
Tuesday, December 2, 2014
Viewing from 4:30 pm to 7:00 pm
Mass of Christian Burial at 7:00 pm
La Salle University: De La Salle Chapel
1900 West Olney Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19141-1199
Wednesday, December 3, 2014
Burial in the Brothers’ cemetery, Ammendale, MD, at 11:30 am
Luncheon to follow
SUFFRAGES FOR OUR DECEASED BROTHER EDWARD
District: 50 masses
De La Salle: LSU community: 30 masses
Each community in the District: 1 mass
Brother Edward passed away peacefully in the early morning after several weeks in palliative care. May he rest in peace.
Assignments
1957-1960
scholasticate
Elkins Park, PA
1960-1964
teacher
Washington, D.C.
St. John’s College High School
1964-1977
teacher
Wyndmoor, PA
La Salle College High School
1977-1979
campus ministry
Pittsburgh, PA
South Hills Catholic High School
1979-1980
campus ministry; community director
Pittsburgh, PA
Seton-La Salle High School
1980-1983
teacher; campus ministry
Philadelphia, PA
West Catholic Boys High School
1983-1984
Philadelphia, PA
West Catholic Boys High School / Jeremy House residence
1984-1989
campus ministry
Audubon, PA
St. Gabriel’s Hall
1989-1991
teacher
Philadelphia, PA
Spring Garden Street Community / De La Salle in Towne
1991-1993
HIPID counselor
Philadelphia, PA
Spring Garden Street Community
1993-1994
aspirancy director
Philadelphia, PA
Spring Garden Street Community
1994-1996
vocation counselor
Philadelphia, PA
Spring Garden Street Community
1996-2000
Philadelphia, PA
Spring Garden Street Community / DelVoc/DelSit
2000-2001
Philadelphia, PA
Spring Garden Street Community / St. Gabriel’s Hall
2001-2007
counselor
Philadelphia, PA
Roncalli Community: La Salle University
2007-2008
counselor
Philadelphia, PA
De La Salle Community: La Salle University
2008-2014
resident
Philadelphia, PA
De La Salle Community: La Salle University
2014-2014
resident
Lincroft, NJ
De La Salle Hall
May you rest in the glorious and golden peace that is yours now. A well-lived life of service to others especially as a teacher and counselor is such a wonderful inspiration. Loving thoughts and prayers being sent to all family and friends of Brother Edward!
Love, (Cousin) Peggy
May God bless you Cousin Jimmy for your devotion to your vocation. And we will remember with joy the great cousin picnics and the fun we had. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Conway family.
With love,
Barbara (Veith) Hill
Rest in Peace, Brother Ed!
Your dedicated, creative and inspirational teaching are the reasons I became a teacher/administrator for 35 years. Thank you for your Christian life in humble service to so many as a wonderful example of the Community of Christian Brothers. May the face of Our Lord smile upon you as your hear: “Well done, my good and faithful servant”.
Blessings on your parents who taught you the value of gracious humility.
St. John Baptiste DeLasalle: “Pray for us”
Live Jesus in our hearts: “Forever”!……
God Bless Brother Ed, aka “The Rock”.
He was a very good man.
LaSalle College HS Class of 1977. Had multiple classes, especially memorable my Honors Biology course. Rest in Peace Brother Conway: teacher, mentor, advisor, guide.
What an absolute pleasure spending time with Brother Ed. He was a great teacher even at the end of his life. He taught me about his love for the music of Shostakovich, Ravel and Debussy. It was an honor for me to know him and spend time with him. I will miss him dearly. God Bless Brother Ed Conway, Rest in Peace and Thank You My Friend. Donnalee Gillen
May God Bless you Brother Edward. He was my teacher for Physical Science and Biology at La Salle College High School. He was a very fair man and I had respect and admiration for him. Whenever I saw him, at many different La Salle Functions, he always remembered me, would express an interest in my family and my work. I always invited him to our class reunions. Bob Mc Creight ’71, Past-President La Salle College High School Alumni Association
Rest in peace Brother Ed. You taught me sophomore biology at La Salle High school and showed me I could accomplish goals thought impossible by me. May you enjoy forever the vision of His Glory.
Rest in peace, Brother Ed, after a lifetime of faithful service to the LaSallian community.
Brother Edward was my Master Teacher at La Salle College High School in suburban Philly. He was truly a master teacher, with a great sense of humor that helped me throughout my teaching years both as a Christian Brother and as a lay teacher. His brother, f/k/a Brother Joel was a solace during our Novitiate at Ammendale, MD. I’m a little late posting a response; Brother Ed would chuckle and understand. Live Jesus in Our Hearts!