Nicholas (Nick) Alleman — 1978 - 1984
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Died shortly after 4.00 am on 23 October at Mercy Parklands in Ellerslie, after a long illness. He was aged 91 and had been a priest for 59 years. Nick was born in The Netherlands in 1930 and so was just 9 years old when German forces occupied The Netherlands for the duration of the Second World War. These were years of massive disruption and great hardship. Nick occasionally mentioned his memories of the lack of food at that time which prompted him to always keep a well-stocked larder during his adult life “just in case”.
Nick qualified as a tailor and came to New Zealand along with many other young Dutch men and women looking for a better life after the difficulties of the war years. |
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Nick qualified as a tailor and came to New Zealand along with many other young Dutch men and
women looking for a better life after the difficulties of the war years. Here in New Zealand, Nick
began to sense a calling to the priesthood and, after years at Holy Name Seminary in
Christchurch and Holy Cross College in Mosgiel, was ordained in Auckland on 30 June 1962 with
Bishop Denis Browne and Pa Henare Tate.
Perhaps because he was a little older, Nick was used during those early years as a supply priest
and once commented that he had served in 10 parishes during his first 13 years as a priest. He
then served as Parish Priest at Beach Haven, Howick, Warkworth, Dargaville and Pt Chevalier
before retiring to Liston Village in 2005. In 2010, Nick moved to St John Vianney House and
then, in March 2017, moved to Mercy Parklands. He is remembered as a faithful and popular
pastor.
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Tributes from parishioners include: -
A few memories of Fr Nick Alleman. He was PP when we first came to Howick 43 years ago. He was responsible for our great singing during the Mass! When we sang it was very halfhearted. Fr. Nick would shout " stop, stop, the Lord can't hear you! you must sing so loud they can hear you out on the street!" And so we did and still do! His legacy. He loved mowing the lawns in the churchyard. He would sing at the top of his voice especially the Benediction hymns.
I was his housekeeper after Cath Brown retired. (Val Sanders and I job-shared for some months) He loved boiled pigs head in pea soup where he would pick every scrap of meat off the bones and then put the head in the peach tree, (now gone) for the birds. A gruesome sight from the kitchen window! Growing up during the war he learned to wear things till they died of old age. He would darn the darns on his socks and turn collars. Skills he learned from his father . My time came to an end when I found his love of greasy food and my morning sickness didn't go well together!
He had a wicked sense of humour and would tease you, sounding very serious at the same time, but look into his eyes and you saw the twinkle!
As our PP, he was both inspirational and uplifting.
Years later we called in after Mass one Sunday when he was In Warkworth. He had me put the jug on, poured out the Sunday collection on the table, and had our 2 sons counting the money with him! It was just like we'd only seen him yesterday instead of years later!
Yes he could be a grumpy, crusty Dutchman but he was ours and we loved him. Rest In Peace old friend.
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There are many things I could write about Father Nick, but one of the main ones is that he was a man of the people. He was a good gardener, a wonderful caring priest, who called around to see his flock, always with a smile. One time when he was cutting the parish lawns, a man called & asked to see the Parish Priest, as Father Nick always, especially in the hot weather, cut the lawn & gardened in singlet & shorts, so with a smile on his face he told the man he was already speaking to him.
When the tides were right and the weather at its best all of the parish were asked to come to Sunday Mass outdoors at Omaha Beach. We enjoyed this time & it brought the Parish together in such a beautiful setting. Looking out to the water, for all those that wanted to, to have a swim when the tide was fully in. Father Nick joined with those who swum for a lovely dip in the blue sea.
At midday we celebrated Mass under God’s sky, a wonderful occasion. It was so good, singing outside & then we had a picnic lunch. Later when all were ready, we had organized games, with Father Nick participating in some.
One time when he was at our home, I told him I had made trifle for dessert.
He asked, did it have wine or sherry in it. Yes, I said as I make trifle with sherry. He laughed as he said he is a “Pioneer”, which do not drink alcohol. I quickly said I would make him something else, to which he very quickly said No. I LOVE Trifle. So as you can guess he enjoyed his favourite many times with our family.
women looking for a better life after the difficulties of the war years. Here in New Zealand, Nick
began to sense a calling to the priesthood and, after years at Holy Name Seminary in
Christchurch and Holy Cross College in Mosgiel, was ordained in Auckland on 30 June 1962 with
Bishop Denis Browne and Pa Henare Tate.
Perhaps because he was a little older, Nick was used during those early years as a supply priest
and once commented that he had served in 10 parishes during his first 13 years as a priest. He
then served as Parish Priest at Beach Haven, Howick, Warkworth, Dargaville and Pt Chevalier
before retiring to Liston Village in 2005. In 2010, Nick moved to St John Vianney House and
then, in March 2017, moved to Mercy Parklands. He is remembered as a faithful and popular
pastor.
==============================================
Tributes from parishioners include: -
A few memories of Fr Nick Alleman. He was PP when we first came to Howick 43 years ago. He was responsible for our great singing during the Mass! When we sang it was very halfhearted. Fr. Nick would shout " stop, stop, the Lord can't hear you! you must sing so loud they can hear you out on the street!" And so we did and still do! His legacy. He loved mowing the lawns in the churchyard. He would sing at the top of his voice especially the Benediction hymns.
I was his housekeeper after Cath Brown retired. (Val Sanders and I job-shared for some months) He loved boiled pigs head in pea soup where he would pick every scrap of meat off the bones and then put the head in the peach tree, (now gone) for the birds. A gruesome sight from the kitchen window! Growing up during the war he learned to wear things till they died of old age. He would darn the darns on his socks and turn collars. Skills he learned from his father . My time came to an end when I found his love of greasy food and my morning sickness didn't go well together!
He had a wicked sense of humour and would tease you, sounding very serious at the same time, but look into his eyes and you saw the twinkle!
As our PP, he was both inspirational and uplifting.
Years later we called in after Mass one Sunday when he was In Warkworth. He had me put the jug on, poured out the Sunday collection on the table, and had our 2 sons counting the money with him! It was just like we'd only seen him yesterday instead of years later!
Yes he could be a grumpy, crusty Dutchman but he was ours and we loved him. Rest In Peace old friend.
==============================================
There are many things I could write about Father Nick, but one of the main ones is that he was a man of the people. He was a good gardener, a wonderful caring priest, who called around to see his flock, always with a smile. One time when he was cutting the parish lawns, a man called & asked to see the Parish Priest, as Father Nick always, especially in the hot weather, cut the lawn & gardened in singlet & shorts, so with a smile on his face he told the man he was already speaking to him.
When the tides were right and the weather at its best all of the parish were asked to come to Sunday Mass outdoors at Omaha Beach. We enjoyed this time & it brought the Parish together in such a beautiful setting. Looking out to the water, for all those that wanted to, to have a swim when the tide was fully in. Father Nick joined with those who swum for a lovely dip in the blue sea.
At midday we celebrated Mass under God’s sky, a wonderful occasion. It was so good, singing outside & then we had a picnic lunch. Later when all were ready, we had organized games, with Father Nick participating in some.
One time when he was at our home, I told him I had made trifle for dessert.
He asked, did it have wine or sherry in it. Yes, I said as I make trifle with sherry. He laughed as he said he is a “Pioneer”, which do not drink alcohol. I quickly said I would make him something else, to which he very quickly said No. I LOVE Trifle. So as you can guess he enjoyed his favourite many times with our family.