Fr Lawrence Kilcourse OSB died at Cardiff on October 21st after suffering from a progressive illness during the last four years. He was born in Beverley in East Yorkshire on 23rd October 1921. His family moved to Manchester and he was educated at the Xavarian College Manchester. He began work as an engineer and became a Fellow of the Institution of Heating and Ventilating Engineers. In due course he became a Director of his firm Rosser & Russell.
He married Nancy Irene Mills in 1946. Although they had no children the marriage was a most happy one. His wife was a very faithful and committed Anglican and he always deeply valued the growth in ecumenical understanding which was interwoven in their married life. His wife died quite suddenly in 1975 and two years later (as she had predicted he would) he sought admission to the novitiate at Ampleforth Abbey at the age of 55.
It was remarkable how well and cheerfully he adapted to the demands of community life and the difficulties of returning at that age to study. He was ordained priest in 1982 and soon after was sent as Assistant to St Mary’s, the Ampleforth parish in Cardiff. He loved pastoral work for the people there and they loved him.
However it was only two years later in 1984 that the beginnings of the illness of which he died appeared. He bore the progressive limitation of his work with patience and to the end was eager to do whatever he could for others. He died very peacefully just short of his 67th birthday.
KILCOURSE Jack Lawrence (Abbot's original files) age 56 Catholic parents, both dead one surviving cousin educated Xaverian College, Manchester recently two years of Open University 1946-77 Design Engineer, Sales, Assistant Manager Rosser & Russell Ltd, heating Engineers 1946-75 Married to Nancy Irene Mills (deceased) no chIldren