ESBVM

Ivan Kightley RIP

The funeral of Ivan Kightley was held last Wednesday at Westminster Cathedral. Bishop Alan Hopes was to have awarded him the Westminster Diocesan Medal for long service to the Church,a rare honour, on 6 January, but Mr. Kightley died on 27 December 2007 after a long battle with cancer.

He was born on 6 March 1928 in Coventry and worked in finance for many years .As a committed Anglican he joined the Ecumenical Society of the Blessed Virgin twenty five years ago and was Treasurer of the society for ten years until 1995 when he was thanked by Fr. Edward Yarnold S.J. for transforming the ESBVM account and his astute financial management .He was appointed Councillor Emeritus of the society.

He was received into the Roman Catholic church at Westminster Cathedral in 1989 and became an active member of the Cathedral community and assisted with financial administration. Fifteen years ago he began managing the finances for the Cathedral magazine. He became a Benedictine Oblate of Ealing Abbey and Honorary Treasurer of the Oblates. Fr. Timothy Gorman OSB,Oblate Master , was one of six priests concelebrating with Fr.Tim Dean of the Cathedral at the funeral.

Ivan Kightley was noted for his gentle demeanour, “always kind and courteous”with a serene smile. In 1988 he moved to St.Peters’ Residence,Vauxhall, living in one of the independent flats until the week before Christmas when he agreed to move into the residential part of the home run by the Little Sisters of the Poor. Sr.Jarlath LSP, who looked after him in the last months of his life, considered him “thoughtful,spiritual and humble”He never failed to recite his Daily Office and faced his illness cheerfully being regarded as a “star patient” at St.Mary’s Hospital Paddington.

Four of the Little Sisters of the Poor followed his coffin into the Cathedral at his Requiem,attended by fellow Benedictine Oblates , members of the Ecumenical Society of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Cathedral friends.

By Ann Farrelly
Ivan was an only child born in Coventry & served most of his working life in the insurance industry.

He was a practising member of the Church of England for many years & joined the ESBVM inspired by his devotion to Mary.

He served the Society as Treasurer for several years and greatly improved its financial situation.

He was received into the Roman church in a private chapel in Westminster Cathedral. Thereafter he was active in cathedral administration being particularly interested in the Choir.

In later years his increasingly suffered from poor health but was sustained by his living in St Peters residence with several other clergy & members of the Society & from where he could often attend the Cathedral.

On a personal note, he was a good friend to Joe & myself, always remembering my birthday. When we last saw him it was at Joe’s 90th birthday celebration when he indicated his days were numbered but was resigned & grateful to the doctors who had enabled him to live longer than anticipated.

He was to receive the diocesan medal for services to the church in January but I am sure he will receive his reward in Heaven.