BISHOP KEVIN DUNNFriends of Bishop Kevin Dunn have paid tribute to the "wise and compassionate man" who died on 1 March, 2008, aged 57, after a month-long stay in hospital.The Right Reverend Kevin John Dunn, who was born in Newcastle and ordained at Our Lady And St Werburgh’s Church in Clayton, Staffordshire, lost his battle with pneumonia at 9.30pm in the Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne.Bishop Dunn had been head of the Catholic diocese of Hexham and Newcastle in the North East since 2004 after serving churches in Stafford and Stoke-on-Trent.He was admitted to hospital on 5 February, and was moved to intensive care three days later.He remained there during the last three weeks and there were times when his condition was stable, but his overall health continued to deteriorate.Father Stephen Fawcett, from Our Lady And St Werburgh’s, said: "He was a fantastic man and he had a great mix of wisdom and compassion. He also had a wonderful ability to make people feel at ease."He was still very well known in Clayton because he often returned to visit his mother. He was devoted to his family. I last saw himtowards the end of last year before he fell ill. He will be greatly missed."His death has been described as peaceful and he was surrounded by his family including his 88-year-old mother, Cath.Canon Seamus Cunningham, the vicar general of the Hexham and Newcastle diocese, was also present and anointed him and said the prayers for the dying.Canon Cunningham, said: "We are very grateful to the doctors and nurses at the Freeman Hospital for the loving care and concern given to the bishop and his family throughout his illness."Bishop Dunn was survived by his mother, sisters Elizabeth, Mary and Julia, and his brothers Stephen and Peter.Canon Cunningham said they were in his prayers and added: "The diocese also extends its prayers and sympathy to Pamela Hyland, Bishop Kevin’s housekeeper for the last three and half years in this diocese, as well as many years previously in his home diocese."Rabbi Dovid Lewis, from Newcastle-upon-Tyne said: "The wider world of Christendom and all religions, have lost a faithful shepherd and leader. He was a man who was able to transcend religious boundaries and see the human being behind the mask."As a religious man I appreciated his thoughtfulness, but as a fellow citizen of this world I enjoyed his humour and smile."Bishop Dunn was ordained as a priest at Our Lady And St Werburgh’s on 17 January, 1976.For two years he was parish priest at Our Lady Of The Angels And St Peter In Chains Church in Hartshill Road, Stoke, and chaplain to The University Hospital Of North Staffordshire.He went on to work in various posts across the West Midlands before becoming parish priest at St Austin’s Church in Wolverhampton Road, Stafford, in 1991. In May 2004 he was ordained as the 12th bishop of the diocese of Hexham and Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
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