1937-2014


Edward-Conway

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