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Saturday, September 15, 2001 5:59 AM from Theresa Lee
Today is a holiday here in remembering the dead of the tragic incident in NY. We have a special Mass in the home. The chaplain, Fr Dereck chatted to Fr Deane before Mass and said, "After Theresa is gone, I will keep an eye on you." Fr Deane replied," I will keep 2 eyes on you." Fr Dereck burst out laughing commenting how quick wit he is.
The girls here loved him even though he can be very difficult at times refusing to do what they asked him to do.If they forced him, he would grasp their hands so tight that they cannot move. He still has a very strong grip.
Some girls asked him for a kiss, he sometimes gives a kiss and sometimes said, "No, you have enough."
Helen said to him, Theresa is very good to you. He said," She is very good to you too"
Last week, I took him and Helen out for a drive. I stopped in Bray to put a new battery in for my watch. We met Carolyn who looks after him on Saturdays. Helen said, "Here's Carolyne, do you remember her?" He replied, " What a silly question to ask." He still mumbles on a bit at times, but on the whole he certainly is more alert and is very sharp and witty.
A lot of his things have disappeared, I have organised a lock to be put in his bedside drawers and a padlock to be put on the top shelve wardrobe. It has been approved by the n/home Director.
Fr Bowman the other Salesains priest, likes to follow me when I wheeled Fr Deane around. It is a long day in the home if you have no visitors so I always talk to Fr Bowman a few times a day.
Sunday, October 07, 2001 7:34 PM from Michael Tam
Class of 1966
It was late July that my family and I went to see Father Deane. We rented a car from London's Heathrow airport and off we set to Dublin, driving through Bath for some sightseeing then Wales. A scenic cruise all the way. We finally arrived Holyhead late that night and stayed at a bed-and-breakfast place I had booked through Internet. The ferry left at nine the next morning and in less than two hours we were at the Dublin port. We headed straight to the nursing home.
Irish are friendly people. They all were very helpful when we asked our way to Shankill. We were literally ushered there so before noon we got to the small village where Father Deane lived. The drive was somewhat like taking Route 3 to Yuen Long, one could be at Shankill in 45 minutes.
Father Foster had already arrived first, waiting for us at the home's entrance. It had been years since Annie and I last saw him and we took the time visiting with each other at the entrance. I had a hunch Fr Johnny liked it that way too. Finally he asked if I knew Fr Paddy had been in a bad shape and I said yes. He wanted me to be prepared before I got to see him.
So we strolled into the home to see Fr Paddy. Before we got to his room we went through a lounge. There he was, attempting to stand from his wheel chair leaning on a counter with the nurses struggling to dress him for lunch. I walked up to the counter to call him. He did not respond, apparently still upset from the hassle of having to get dressed. After a few seconds he turned his head to see whose hello it was. When he saw me, he burst out an "Ohhh…!" He had to sit down to recuperate himself. Oh, he recognized me alright. I whispered greetings to him and he nodded his head looking intensely at me all those few minutes till I had to excuse myself for a timeout, leaving Annie to greet him.
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