DENT, Ancilla (formerly Hon Rosamond Mary) 1933 - 2025

[Henry W]

https://minsterabbeynuns.org/death-notice-sister-ancilla-dent-osb/

Death Notice: Sister Ancilla Dent OSB

We share the news that our dear Sister Ancilla Dent OSB peacefully returned to God on 15th of October in the 66th year of her monastic profession.  Sister Ancilla lived her Benedictine vocation with faithful prayer, quiet service, and a deep love for creation. She was a forerunner in ecology and she saw this as a lived reflection of Benedictine reverence for all that God has made. Following a stroke, Sr. Ancilla moved to St. Brelades care home where she was able to enjoy the beauty of the sea from her room. She experienced this as a deepening of her contemplative life.

Her funeral Mass and burial have taken place at Minster Abbey, where the community gathered with her family and friends to commend her to God’s loving mercy.

May she rest in the peace of Christ, whom she sought in prayer, in community, and in the wonder of creation.

Whilst I am not absolutely certain this death occurred in 2025, it does appear amongst other 2025 events here: https://minsterabbeynuns.org/news-from-the-abbey-2/ 

She was the dau of William Herbert Shelley DENT (1895 - 1981), scion of the SHELLEY baronets and the MARTIN-LEAKE LG family of Marshalls, and 19th Baroness FURNIVALL (1900 - 1968).

She was unm.

On her mother's death she was co-heir to the FURNIVALL barony along with her sister, Patricia Mary BENCE (formerly HORNSBY, nee DENT) who is married twice with issue.

With Ancilla's death, Patrica Mary BENCE is now the sole heir to the title and is accordingly 20th Baroness FURNIVALL.

Patricia Mary DENT m 1st 1956 (div 1963) Thomas HORNSBY (died 1967); 2nd 1970 Roger Thomas John BENCE (died 2017). She has issue by both marriages, incl Francis Walton Petre HORNSBY (born 1958), now HEIR APPARENT to the Barony.

[bx...@yahoo.com]

Such an ancient title, that now comes out of abeyance after 58 years.

What a way to start the New Year!

Brooke