Fr Nicholson

FATHER Peter Nicholson was yesterday remembered as a man with a most “attractive personality, very witty and extremely generous” at his funeral service at the St Theresa’s RC Church, De Verteuil Street, Woodbrook.

Nicholson, 83, died last Sunday after a long struggle with Alzheimer’s disease.

In the homily, Fr Herbert Charles told the congregation which gathered to pay their respects, that when one thought of Nicholson, the book of Wisdom came to mind. That is, “souls of the just are in the hands of God and torment of evil does not touch them.”

Charles said Nicholson was a person of integrity and a “man’s man.”

“He was very hospitable, no fuss. Thoughtful, kind, very witty, extremely generous. And people like that are living lessons of God and when they are gone there must be sadness, but also feelings of thanksgiving and appreciation.” Charles added that Nicholson had left an inheritance, something which most, if not all in attendance could testify to.

Charles noted that with death comes the issue of the fragility of life. He said most would remember Nicholson as “robust, strong and full of energy, and when one witnessed his slow decline, it gives meaning to the expression that life changes and we are made of stuff of mortality.”

He said with death people focus and ask themselves questions. He urged, “Count your blessings and make them count.”

Delivering the eulogy was Fr Knolly Knox who, with another priest, left with Nicholson for French Canada in 1942 to study the priesthood.

Knox recalled them leaving Coco-rite and travelling to New York and then Canada “where he saw the bright and funny side of life.” Nicholson returned to Trinidad in 1945 and became a prefect at St Mary’s College. In 1948 he left for Ireland and was ordained a priest on July 15, 1951 in Dublin. In 1952 he was appointed to the Mission in Nigeria and returned to Trinidad in 1954 to teach at St Mary’s College. He was later appointed parish priest at St Joseph where he stayed for seven years, before moving to St Patrick’s and then St Theresa’s.

Knox said Nicholson spent 17 years as an Editor at the Catholic News until his health began deteriorating and he retired from the Parish. He then went to the Holy Ghost Community at Fatima College, Port-of-Spain, where he died peacefully last Sunday.

Knox said of Nicholson: “As a scout, missionary, priest, he was the centre of jokes and laughter which was infectious. He was zealous, dedicated and had a most attractive personality. “He was a man to be followed.”

Several priests attended the service as well as Archbishop Edward Gilbert.