On 17 January, Br John Wells, FMS, passed away in Ashgrove, Queensland. Below is an obituary written by SoTS Provincial, Br Peter Carroll.
Quietly and peacefully, John passed into the hands of our loving God at 6.45pm last night, Brisbane time. Robert Hayes was beside him; Roger and a carer had just left the room and Daniel Hollamby arrived moments later with John’s niece, Fiona. His final breath was
imperceptible. Thus, John’s life of 79 years, and his religious life as a Marist Brother of 61 years, came to a gentle close.
Born in Innisfail on 20 January 1946, John Ernest Wells was the son of Monica and Austin, and the brother of Patricia, Peter and Ann. He attended school at Marist Brothers Casino before going to the Juniorate to complete his schooling, which he did in December 1962.
He entered the Novitiate on 2 July 1963 and took his first Vows exactly twelve months later. With just one year of teacher training after the Novitiate, John hit the classroom at age 20. He then spent his entire teaching ministry in primary schools, spread across the Sydney Province. He genuinely loved his work with the students. To see John in action in school was to see someone who was available and present. His special apostolate was the playground, where he always seemed to have a cluster of students around him. He engaged with them and showed interest in them and all their various activities. He was always a dedicated and capable Primary educator.
The advent of computer technology raised new possibilities, and John was quick to realise their educational advantages. He was what we call today an ‘early adopter’ of technology in the classroom. This helped to transform his teaching and reinvigorate his work in schools. He became an expert in the field and was always ready to assist other staff members and students.
A reluctant leader, John carried out special responsibilities in most of the schools in which he worked and communities in which he lived. He was Deputy Principal, and then Principal at Parramatta and Ashgrove, where he continued to teach as well as administer. Staff admired his calmness, his willingness to listen and his humour. He had long years as Assistant Community Leader and Community Leader. The Brothers with whom John has lived uniformly attest to his warmth and ease of relating. He was always kind and welcoming,
with a ready sense of humour and wry smile.
John was a country boy: Innisfail born; Casino raised. He loved nature and the outdoors, particularly the seaside. He had a preference for the down-to-earth and his lifestyle was genuinely simple. Not for him the superficial, artificial or the overly complex; he valued simple pleasures, his work and other people; he never aspired to have more but simply settled for what he had. We saw this in his life and his ministry, and throughout his illness: the true blend of the gentle and the strong; the nurturing and the determined.
Undoubtedly, suffering from Parkinson’s was John’s single greatest, persistent challenge. The illness was life altering and, in the end, life denying. First diagnosed in 1995, at age 49, he lived with it for 30 years. One can’t help but be inspired by the courage with which he confronted this disease. It brought into sharp relief that quality which was evident throughout his life, but particularly so during his illness: his dogged determination! In the early years, he continued to work every day, to drive and care for himself. He never asked for sympathy or special favour. He met his illness with equanimity and at times took risks, such as when he underwent experimental deep brain surgery in 2011.
In fact, Dan Hollamby tells the story of he and John K O’Brien going to visit John in the hospital just after the surgery. Unsure of what condition he would be in, or whether he’d be conscious, they were astounded to walk into his room and see him seated in a chair with a bandage on his head, reading the newspaper and eating a Cornetto ice-cream. The surgery was quite successful and helped to mitigate the worst symptoms of the illness for some time.
However, being a realist, John agreed to leave behind active ministry and move from Sunshine Beach to the Andrew Villa in 2013. Since then, his condition gradually deteriorated, but his determination did not. He continued to be a fighter. There were good days and bad days, there were periods of hospitalisation, which he hated. He met each problem with resolve and courage. He finally lost all mobility, a hoist was needed to move him, and he was confined to a tub chair or bed. Through all this, he appreciated the care he consistently received and valued the support of his own family and Brothers. He arrived at the point where he could barely speak, but he didn’t lose his sense of humour, which could still peek through at times.
John was genuinely a simple man, in the best sense of that word. He was kind and generous, gentle and strong, a guardian angel for children, a great companion to his brothers. And until yesterday, he continued his Marist mission and his brotherly ministry. The Prophet Isaiah speaks of the “suffering servant”; we often hear these readings in Lent and Holy Week. John too has been a suffering servant. His presence and patience, his quiet endurance have been extraordinary examples to us. He preached the Gospel to us through his daily life.
However, his earthly mission is complete; and John now rests in the perfect peace of our loving God; a peace he certainly deserves.
I offer our sympathy to Daniel, the Ashgrove Brothers and staff, and to John’s remaining siblings, Pat, Anne, Peter and their families. We Brothers and John’s family are enormously grateful to those who have supervised his treatment, nursed and cared for him over these long years. It was of great consolation to John and his family that he was able to remain in community throughout his long illness.
Thank you to Dr Norris, Corinne McPhee, Kellie Keane, the staff at the Villa, and all who made that possible.
Written by Br Peter Carroll, SoTS Provincial.
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