Devoted servant
Obituaries
Br Stanislaus (Stan) Tyler CP - Born: December 24 1932 | Died: January 9 2023
Stan was born in Port Lincoln and after living much of his life interstate and in Papua New Guinea as a missionary he retired to, and died in, Adelaide.
Stan was a very gifted man. He was an excellent tradesman, tailor, cook and whatever he touched he did so with care and exactitude.
Firstly, in his family and then as a professed member of the province he served God over the course of the 90 years of God’s loving him and gracing his life.
Stan devoted 72 of those years in service of the Lord. Service that carried him across many of the Passionists’ communities in three Australian states (St Ives, Geelong and St Kilda), New Zealand and Papua New Guinea. Perhaps the most effective memory of Stan amongst Passionists will be his many years of devoted service in Papua New Guinea and his practical contribution to not only the mission but to the social development of people and the training of men in skilled labour.
Like most people, Stan had his own worries and difficulties to bear. They tormented him sometimes, but he carried his crosses bravely, with patience and dedication.
He was meticulous in whatever task he addressed and maintained a dry, perhaps at times perplexing sense of humour, and didn’t mind leaving one wondering or puzzling over a response of his, till you finally worked it out for yourself.
Fr Denis Travers recalls him sharing one time – when he had returned to ministry in the province after a period back in his hometown – that he had told the men who’d worked with him there that he was retiring. Stan by then was in his mid-forties and his co-workers could not believe that he was financially secure enough at that age to retire. But he kept answering in the same manner, not telling them he was returning to community-based life and instead left them wondering.
To those who worked alongside him, especially in Papua New Guinea, Stan was a good friend and support.
Stan like Jesus, saw the needs of little people, those needing work, needing support in a developing nation.
He served his brothers in the community with dedication and care. He always sought to do the very best at whatever he did.
The symbols placed on his coffin reflected his life – Passionist sign, Passionist rosary, and his Passionist cross was buried with Stan in his religious habit.
Fr Jacob Shibu placed in the coffin Stan’s prayer book (complete with cards for his Passionist brothers who he remembered in his prayer), and his PNG Medal given by the Government of PNG for services to the nation.
Stan’s many kind, quiet, and often unacknowledged acts of charity, dedication and kindness did not go unnoticed by God.
Jump to next article
Comments
Show comments Hide comments