Please remember in your prayers the repose of the soul of Fr. Edward McCorkell. Fr. Edward had been a resident at Carroll Manor, a nursing home connected to Providence Hospital, Washington DC, for about the past three years. Abbot Robert had received a phone call from Fr. Andrew on Sunday evening that Fr. Edward was failing and had planned to go in and be with him on Monday. Around 6:00 AM this morning, Abbot Robert received a call from Carroll Manor that Fr. Edward had peacefully died in his sleep this morning, 2 July, around 3:00 AM.
Fr. Edward had been born in South Africa and came to the United States to join the Paulist Novitiate in Union City, New Jersey; after hearing a book read in their refectory about the Founders of Citeaux, he transferred to Our Lady of the Valley, a Trappist monastery in Valley Falls, Rhode Island. A full obituary will be posted here in a few days. Suffice it to say that Fr. Edward, after several peregrinations, was elected the second Abbot of Berryville and eventually served as Novice Director from 1989 t0 1996.
The date and hour of his funeral Mass and burial will be posted as soon as possible.
James F Maloney says
July 2, 2012 at 7:46 pmMy family and I love this guy. After our brother’s (Brother Henry)untimely death in a tragic motor accident that
also took the lives of two other monks (Fr Cyril and Fr George); Fr Edward sort of adopted us Maloneys and he became a loving brother, caring friend, gentle spiritual director and a gracious host in the tradition of Benedict
making our frequent visits to the monastery very special occasions!
He has been in my daily prayer over these many years and I will continue to pray to/for him. Perhaps health and circumstance will permit my attendance at his funeral.
May God continue to bless Edward and all of his brothers at Holy Cross Abbey.
Tim Scanlon says
July 3, 2012 at 5:28 pmI learned of Father Edward’s death from another retrearant here at Holy Cross. I remember talking with Father Edward my first time here at least 22 years ago. He was a good, humble and holy man and will be missed. If I thought he’d have remembered me, I wish I’d have visited him in DC. Rest in peace.
Katherine Linde says
July 5, 2012 at 6:44 amI feel privileged to have known such a learned and spiritual man. I came to know Father Ed when my family members visited my uncle Brother Henry. I always came home feeling renewed.
Pat Linde Neidermeyer says
July 5, 2012 at 5:28 pmI fondly remember Fr. Ed, he was a good friend and counsel to my mother. She enjoyed his bright intellect and his zest for life and probing deeper into our faith. As an adult I came to know him on my own and enjoyed his telling of the history of the order as well as his friendship with my Uncle, Brother Henry. He was most helpful to me when I had a serious illness almost 20 yrs ago, and gave me an icon of Our Lady of Guadalupe, who’s intercession he suggested I seek. I still have it and it is one of my treasures. My husband and children had come to know him as well from our visits, and we are all saddened by his passing. Yet we know that he has gone home now to experience the full glory of the Lord he served so well.