Sharing the joy of life, family, nature, shared meals and music
Obituaries
Brian Bonaventure Shinnick: Born 14 July 1935, Died 20 March 2026.
Brian Bonaventure Ignatiius was born in 1935 and lived at 1 Tyrrell Street, Kensington (now the tennis courts at Mary McKillop College). Brian was the third child of Gerald and Adelaide and brother to David, Frank, Veronica, Maurice and Mary.
In 1939 the family shifted to College Road Kent Town, where he attended St Marys School, Beulah Road, followed by Thebarton’s Marist Brothers School.
After leaving school, Brian undertook an apprenticeship in carpentry and went on to do clerical work with various firms including Metters, Steelbilt, Charlicks and finally Hills Industries.
On 28 December 1957 he married Catherine Margaret Sexton in St Mary’s Church, Beulah Road. Cath and Brian were active members of the church at Beulah Road, Norwood, Brian with the YCW and Cath with the NCGM (National Catholic Girls Movement).
When they moved into the family home in Clarence Park, it quickly became home for their six boys, Stephen, Mark, Philip, Bernard, Andrew and Nicholas, plus a constant stream of friends and cousins. Later, it became home to six daughters-in-law, 15 grandchildren and two great grandchildren all of whom Brian loved dearly.
Brian and Cath’s sons attended the local catholic school, St Thomas, Goodwood. There, they were involved in many activities over the years; Cath with the Mother’s Club (now Parents and Friends) and Brian attending school working bees and as a member of the School Board.
Brian was an avid cook and devoted gardener who transferred the family’s backyards into an oasis perfect for big gatherings and games of cricket. He was also a talented organist and was a part of the Holy Cross choir for more than 50 years.
He was first taught music in Grade 2 by Sister Mary Calver. Years later this led to him playing the church organ at Lower North Adelaide and then joining the Goodwood Choir in 1959/60 when it was reformed.
He was an organist at the Resurrection Church from 1964, became the Holy Cross choir master in 1969, and then the organist from 1975 before handing the choir master and chief organist baton to Joshua Valstar in 1995. Brian continued on as organist on the fourth Sunday of each month, before officially retiring in 2010.
He was also on the Cana Cottages committee and a member of the Parish Pastoral Council, while Cath was active in the Parish as a member of the CLM (Catholic Life Movement) and a Minister of the Eucharist for a number of years.
Brian was farewelled at Goodwood’s Holy Cross Church on 27 March 2026 and in a touching tribute, the choir sang at his funeral.
“Dad was instrumental in the change at Holy Cross in transitioning from the beautiful harmonies and chants of the Latin mass to the music of today in which everybody participates,” said his son Stephen.
“Having the present Holy Cross choir singing today is greatly appreciated, demonstrating that music continues to be a powerful force at Goodwood, something that would make Dad very proud. Similarly, to have a number of past members of the choir here today is so special.”
Brian put a great deal of thought into preparing his funeral liturgy which reflected his deep faith and concern for others.
“He was a man of gentleness,” said Brian’s brother Maurice Shinnick during his homily. “Who out of love for us, chose those words from the prophet Isaiah: ‘Do not be afraid.’
“He knew the dignity which God had blessed him with from the moment of his baptism. ‘I have called you by name, you are mine’.
Guided by the example of our parents, Adelaide and Gerald, and the nightly praying of the Rosary around the kitchen table, he grew in his faith.
That flowered into his commitment to the worship of God through being a church organist from the age of 14, and later, after his marriage to Cath, as organist and director of the choir, here at Holy Cross.”
Brian’s sense of Christian vocation was expressed in words from St Paul” ‘God the Father chose us, chose us in Christ, to be holy and to live through love in his presence’.
The hymns of his choice centred upon the Eucharist. ‘Finest bread I will provide. O Lord, you feed us with finest of wheat, our pledge of eternal life. Anyone who eats this bread, will live forever.’
“That devotion to Jesus in the Eucharist then flowed out into his daily life with simplicity and kindness,” Maurice said. “His care of his family, on one wage and with no car (unheard of today), was shown in his wonderful skill at cooking and in the beauty of his garden.
He was a good colleague at work and was warm in his interaction with parishioners. His life was a living witness to his faith. His Gospel choice of the words of Jesus at the first Eucharist, reinforced those words and showed his concern for us who mourn. ‘Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God still, and trust in me’.”
“In life, sometimes we are lost. We cannot always find our way through its complexities and this leads to confusion and anxiety,” Maurice said,
Brian navigated his way through life with a faith that was the bedrock of his being. In this time of grief our faith in Jesus is a sure light, and is the source of our comfort. As Jesus said, ‘Blessed are those who mourn, they shall be comforted’.
The final words of Jesus, which Brian leaves us with, are peace, joy and purpose. ‘I am the Way, the Truth and the Life’.”
