Brother Camillus Denis O'Connor
born 1916
entered Roscrea 1931
to Nunraw 1946
returned to Roscrea 1977
died 12th December 1993
Br Camillus O'Connor died at Roscrea 12th December 1993
Br Camillus O'Connor was born into a family of four boys and four girls in Nenagh a large market town about twenty miles from Roscrea
Abbey, in the year 1916.
The young Denis O'Connor went to the school in Nenagh and entered Mount St Joseph Abbey in the year 1931. He was duly professed and
worked in the garden and in the wardrobe. Later he helped in the souvenir shop.
In 1946 Mount St Joseph made its first foundation. This was at Nunraw in Scotland and Br Camillus went with the first group of founders. For
some time he worked on the farm and then came the building of the new monastery.
He worked on the building of the Abbey until its completion and then was appointed to the Guesthouse in Nunraw. Here he made friends with
whom he remained in contact after his return to Ireland. In 1977 Br Camillus returned to Ireland and spent the rest of his time in Roscrea.
About a year or so before he died he fell in the cloister and broke his hip. Although this was surgically repaired he never fully recovered and
afterwards walked only with difficulty.
Gradually his health deteriorated, but he retained his interest in everything and while in hospital constantly asked about the community and
its doings. In the presence of the abbot and some of the monks, and with his two religious sisters and two of his brothers present, he died
peacefully on Sunday December 12th.