And it was a fitting farewell for the disciplinarian and popular teacher who even in the final months of his life amused students with his wit and candour when they visited him at the hospital.
Sombre was the mood as the alumni of some of Malaysia’s more prestigious schools turned up strongly to pay respects to a guiding light of their youthful days.
At the funeral service in St Francis Xavier’s Church in Jalan Gasing, there were warm smiles and embraces as over 200 former students were reunited, some having last seen their peers decades before when leaving school.
Excited chatter was heard as they recollected old memories and fonder times.
Most of all, they spoke of the indelible mark Felix left on them, when he taught students at the St Xavier’s Institution in Penang, St Paul’s Institution, and the La Salle secondary school in Section 5 here.
His passing on Sunday after a long illness, aged 86, marked the end of an era. Felix was the last surviving Irish member of the Roman Catholic La Salle teaching order in Malaysia.
Former students of both St Paul’s and La Salle spoke of Felix and his 36-year teaching career in glowing terms.
Teacher K. Nava, 52, who attended La Salle from 1977 to 1981, said Felix was known to be a stern disciplinarian who stuck by the old adage that sparing the rod meant spoiling the child.
"His nickname among La Sallians was ‘white ghost’, referring to his European ancestry and his custom of patrolling the school’s corridors, dressed in his white cassock with a cane tucked under his arm at all times,” he told the Malay Mail.
Nava recalled one instance when he skipped classes to hang out in the library. Upon finding out, a teacher sent prefects to escort him to Felix’s office for disciplining.
"Naturally I was caned, of course. So when I paid him a visit last year in the hospital, he did not recall who I was but asked if he had ever caned me. When I said he did, Brother Felix remarked that those he caned always came back to visit him later in life.
"Mind you, I enjoyed the Moral classes he taught, since he would always discuss ethics and values. And true to his calling, he never gave up on troublesome students even when many would have.
They in turn respected him for his staunch fairness,” he said, adding these troublesome students attributed their turn-around and later successes in life to Felix.
Retired electrical engineer, lecturer and St Paul’s alumnus Ng Yoon Wei, 64, who left the institution in 1971, said many students were afraid of Felix when he first taught at the school in Seremban.
"He was strict, but once you get used to it you will find he had a warm sense of humour that put you at ease.
"Many of us were below average students, so Brother Felix sought to improve our morale. He encouraged us to look at the brighter side of life, even when we were feeling particularly pessimistic about failing our exams,” he said.
Ng last saw Felix at the St Paul’s annual alumni dinner last year, describing him as slower in movement but still sharp-minded.
Irish Ambassador to Malaysia Eamon Hickey said he got to know Felix well in the two years he served.
"He was a prominent member of the Irish community in Malaysia, and always a sound source of advice. In the 65 years he resided here, Brother Felix was a voice of progress in so many ways,
"I am grieved by his passing, but looking at the faces of all those in attendance today is a reminder to celebrate the life of a great Irishman, and a great Malaysian by association,” he said.
Felix after he first arrived in Malaya in November 1952.
Born on May 10, 1931 in County Laois, Ireland, Felix first arrived in then-Malaya in November 1952, a fresh-faced 21-year old who started teaching English and Literature at St Xavier’s until 1958, before he returned to Ireland to obtain a bachelor’s degree.
He returned to Malaya three years later and resumed teaching at St Xavier’s. In 1964 he was assigned to St Paul’s as deputy principal. He rose to the rank of headmaster in 1970 and held the position for five years.
In 1975, Felix was transferred to La Salle School as principal serving for 13 years before retiring in April 1988.
In his golden years, Brother Felix kept himself active by remaining in touch with former students, and advising La Salle’s board of governors.
As Felix’s casket was brought out of the church yesterday wheeled into a waiting hearse, mourners gathered and St Paul’s and La Salle’s anthems filled the air.
Per the Latin proverb sic transit gloria mundi, thus passes the glory of the world.
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