Deceased 1 May 2019
Death of Brother Marius Woulfe, RIP – – 1924-2019. Provided by Br Kevin Hoare
We have lost a much loved and respected Brother. Dick died last week at Royal Adelaide Hospital. He was 94 years of age and had been a Brother for nearly 77 years.
Last weekend Dick showed signs of a lung infection. He was treated with antibiotics but his condition worsened and yesterday he was admitted to hospital where he was diagnosed with lower lobe pneumonia. He received the last rites just 24 hours ago; ironically from one of his Sacred Heart ex-students. Given his advanced age and the seriousness of the infection he didn’t recover and died at 2.34pm (Central Time).
He taught primary classes at Hawthorn and Kyneton, and then secondary subjects at Kilmore, New Norcia, Sacred Heart, Wangaratta, Churchlands and Preston. He was an excellent teacher, well regarded by his students. He could motivate and engage them and knew when their interest was flagging – he’d then launch into an anecdote or two. He was a deep thinker and a wide reader with broad interests – football and politics in particular.
Dick finished secondary teaching in 1991, but he remained active. He moved to the Karama community in Darwin in 1992 and quickly became involved in teaching English as a second language. In fact, he was instrumental in the establishment of the Migrant Education Association. At the age of 76, he accepted an appointment to MAPAC in Manila where he was a Teacher and Tutor to the young Brothers – all of whom valued his advice and friendship. After six years in The Philippines he returned to Karama until 2012 when the community closed. His last years were spent at Somerton Park and, since 2018 at the Flora McDonald Home.
Dick would often end his letters with the Spanish phrase “vaja con dios” (go with God). And truly this is where Dick now is.
