Remembering and celebrating friends and supporters who have died

As we add to the history of the Denis Hurley Centre, we want to celebrate people who have been a key part of our journey and whom we have lost. This page will be updated with links to tributes and memorials of people who have been important in the life of the Denis Hurley Centre and who have passed from this life to a better place.

We are sad to say goodbye to those we have loved and we will miss their company. But, as people of faith, we can give thanks to God for the service they gave and be confident that, in God’s mercy, they will receive their eternal reward. With St Thomas More we can pray: “We may yet hereafter in heaven merrily all meet together, to our everlasting salvation.”

2010

Fatima Meer (1928-2010)

Patron, Struggle hero, and close associate of +Hurley

2012

Prof Phillip Tobias (1925-2012)

Patron and renowned paleoanthropologist

2012

Rev Dr Khosa Mgojo (1932-2012)

Patron, Methodist Bishop

2016

Right Rev David Konstant (1930-2016)

UK Patron, Bishop of Leeds

2017

Most Rev Barry Wood (1942-2017) 

Auxiliary Bishop of Durban

2017

Cardinal Cormac Murphy-OConnor (1932-2017)

UK Patron, Archbishop of Westminster

2017

Themi Venturas (1958-2017)

Creator of 2015 Hurley Centenary Concert

2018

Nomfundu Ntuli (1985-2018)

Member of Face2Face café team

2018

Paddy Kearney (1942-2018)

Founder and chair of Trustees

Paddy Kearney pages

2020

Canon Christopher Tuckwell (1945-2020)

Patron, Dean of Westminster Cathedral

2021

Rt Rev Abel Gabuza (1955-2021)

Archbishop Co-Adjutor of Durban

2021

Mgr Paul Nadal (1932-2021)

Trustee, Patron and Fundraiser

Paul Nadal pages

2021

Virushka Ganga (1984-2021)

Member of Face2Face café team

2021

Ben Ngubane (1941-2021)

Patron, Premier of KZN

2021

Baroness Shirley Williams (1930-2021)

UK Patron, UK Government Minister

2021

Mildred Neville (1927-2021)

UK Patron, founder of CIIR

2021

Rev John Borman (1935-2021)

Methodist Bishop, Struggle hero

2021

Thandeka Makhanya (1991-2021)

Activist, and homeless woman

2021

Liz Mkame (1937-2021)

Patron, partner with Paddy at Diakonia

2022

Albert Nolan (1934-2022)

Liberation Theologian

2023

Dr Hoosen ‘Jerry’ Coovadia (1940-2023)

Patron, Struggle hero and renowned Doctor

2023

Paddy Meskin (1945-2023)

Patron, Founder of ‘Religions for Peace’

2023

Rt Rev Maurice Taylor (1926-2023)

UK Patron, Bishop of Galloway (Scotland)

2023

David van der Westhuizen (1980-2023)

Street Lit

2023

Joicelyn Leslie-Smith (1936-2023)

Archivist at the Denis Hurley Library, Cedara

2024

Rev Norman Hudson (1931-2024)

Methodist Bishop, Chair of Diakonia

2024

Ursula Hurley (1933-2024)

Poet and sister-in-law of + Denis Hurley

2024

Pravin Gordhan (1949-2024)

Government Minister, and associate of Paddy Kearney

2024

Priscilla McKay (1940-2024)

Social Work Advisor, close friend of Paddy

2024

Bishop Trish Fresen (1940-2024)

Campaigner for justice in SA and in the Church

2024

Prof Douglas Irvine (1940-2024)

Friend and collaborator of +Hurley and Paddy Kearney

In addition, we remember those donors who have generously left us money in their wills. For such legacies we commit to retaining the capital and only spending the interest so that the gift will continue to benefit the work of the DHC in perpetuity.

For reasons of privacy, we do not list these donors by name but we remember them and all the names on this page in our Memorial Masses.

We also mourn the passing of homeless people, refugees and drug users who have used our services and for whom the struggle to survive became too much. Sometime we know about their deaths, often we do not; sometimes we know their real names, sometimes we do not. Often, in death as in life, they are not noticed by the world, but they are known to God and we believe will be welcomed home by the father of of us all. A few of those whose name we know include:

Faith ka Manzi
Thembinkosi Mathiyela
James Tshabalala
Banzi Mkula
Kgotso
Sicelo Blessing Ndlovu
Buhle Pearce
Andile Ndlovu
Siya Mngadi
Siyabonga Melokuhle
Jabu Msomi
Thobile Ngcobo
Londizwi Ndlovu
Senzo Khoza
Thabani Khanyile
Ntombi Zwane

Njabulo Ngcobo
Vusi Tshangase
Nosipho Shangase
Thandani Mkhize
Pamela Homani
Timothy Ngcobo
Kwazi Maphumulo
Clement Jali
Bongani Mkhize
Sikhumbuzo Gumede
Zenzele Dlamini
Amanda Kubheka
Thandeka Khanyile
Pinky Mtshali
Senzo Khoza
Thabani Khanyile

“Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.” (Luke 6:20)