Lucien P. Conroy 1872-1929

CONROY

Posted By: Joe Conroy (email)
Date: 11/13/2010 at 19:35:52

Williamsburg Journal-Tribune
Williamsburg, Iowa
12 Sep 1929
Page 1

Lucien Conroy Dies Friday

Native of Hilton Answers Final Call After An Illness of Nine Months.

Brothers' Great Fidelity

Patiently Ministered to His Wants For Nearly Quarter of a Century; Funeral Sunday.

Lucien Conroy passed away at the old home east of Conroy at an early hour Friday morning, his death marking the end of an illness that set in about the first of the year.

The funeral services were held Sunday afternoon at St. Patrick's church, Marengo, Father Tackenburg of St. Ambrose College officiating, reciting the prayers for the dead and preaching the excellent funeral sermon. The funeral Mass was celebrated at 8:30 on Monday.

The interment was in the family lot in Mt. Calvary cemetery beside the bodies of the parents, brothers and sisters who passed away many years ago. The pallbearers were: Halvor Stanerson, M. Moynihan, Matt White, Peter White, Thomas Donohoe, and Joseph Donohoe. A large concourse of sympathising friends and neighbors was present.

Lucien Conroy was born on the old homestead in Hilton on March 18, 1872, and was the youngest of six brothers and was midway in the line of five sisters. The parents were pioneers of Hilton and the father, Hon. James Conroy, was treasurer of Iowa County for three terms during the 1880's, and Lucien attended the Marengo school.

This was followed by a year each at St. Ambrose College, Davenport, and Notre Dame University, Indiana.

In 1902 he went to Ogden, Utah, where he resided with his brother, Dr. Edward Conroy. The following year, while engaged in a clerical position in the construction of the Salt Lake Cut-Off he was injured in a train derailment, resulting in complete paralysis of the lower extremities. Three years in an Ogden hospital afforded no relief, and the young man returned to the old home in Hilton where he spent 23 years under the constant care of his two faithful brothers, Frank and John. No greater example of fidelity was ever witnessed than this of the two brothers in their ministrations to their helpless mate; not an instant of the twenty-three years did he lack the presence of one or both of the faithful brothers, the affections between them strengthening with the years.

Lucien Conroy was endowed with a brilliant intellect and thruout his years of helplessness he stored his mind with the best current thought of the times, and it was this taste that enabled him to find a constant pleasure and interest in the passing of his shut-in days. Visitors to the home enjoyed his company, profited by the world of information his good mind so freely bestowed upon those about him; he was always cheerful, always appreciative of the kindness and attention he never lacked, and for almost a quarter of a century his alert mind found daily pleasure in its close and sympathetic touch with events and affairs for which the average person felt little or no concern.

He was a life-long member of the Catholic church and died fortified and consoled in its last rites.

He is survived by three brothers, John and Frank of the home and Dr. Hugh Conroy of Pasadena, Calif. To the bereaved relatives, the community extends its sincerest sympathies.