Rome Sentinel Wednesday Aug 25, 1939 Otter Lake takes Life of Rev. Codd – Durhamville Priest and Brother-in-law are Drowned Resuscitation work proves unsuccessful Father had served Churches in Utica and Florence. The Rev. Edmund J. Codd, pastor of St. Francis Church, Durhamville, former pastor of St. Mary’s Church, Florence, and St. Mary’s Church, Florence, and well known in Rome and vicinity, lost his life by drowning in Otter Lake late Tuesday afternoon, despite the efforts at resuscitation after he had been taken to shore. The body of his brother-in-law, Dennis McGrath, the Bronx, was found on the bottom of the lake nearly an hour after the accident. Both men were administered the last rites by the Rev. Robert Driscoll, pastor of St. Mary’s of the Snows, Otter Lake, where Father Codd had said mass Tuesday morning. Father Codd and his brother-in-law were engaged in taking stones across the bay of the lake, where the water is but five feet deep, to the Codd cottage for construction work. Their heavily loaded metal boat became lodged on a log and Miss Joyce Lamb and Miss Violet Door, Buffalo, both 16 years old, offered help.
BROKEN OAR CAUSES MISHAP
In getting off the log, one of the oars broke, and the girls offered on of their oars, but the men said that they could get to shore. Within calling distance, the men asked Mrs. McGrath, Father Codd’s sister, to bring another oar in another boat. When they tried to pass the oar to the heavily laden boat, the craft upset, spilling both men, who could not swim, into the water.
BODY OF MCGRATH FOUND
Fifteen men from the Old Forge American Legion came to use an inhalator and eight men from the Boonville fire squad assisted in resuscitation efforts for several hours, but were unsuccessful. Meantime, search was started for the body of McGrath which was carried down with the boat. About 45 minutes after the accident, Billy Barr, Buffalo, located the body near shore and it was taken from the water by Charles Young, Hicksville, L .I. Search for the body had been carried on by Mrs. McGrath and Miss Mattie Wise, housekeeper for Father Codd. Three physicians and several nurses were on hand to aid the workers with inhalators and attempts to revive the men were not given up until five hours after the accident. The water at the spot is only five feet deep but the bottom is very soft so that on can not stand on the bottom. Father Codd was born Oct. 10, 1896, at Aughnegan House, County Wexford, Ireland, a son of Judge Patrick and Elizabeth Roach Codd. His father was a prominent county judge. He received his religious education at St. Peter’s College and was ordained in 1919, coming to the United States soon afterward. He was at St. Luke’s Parish, the Bronx, for a short time, and served as an assistant at St. Patrick’s Utica, before going to St. Mary’s Church, Florence, in 1926. He served there eight years and was sent to St. Francis’s Church, Durhamville, June 10, 1934. He was a member of Oneida Lodge of Elks and was a member of several important committees, including the charity committee. The Elks will meet Thursday night to pay their respects.
DOUBLE FUNERAL PLANNED
Eternal rest grant unto him, oh Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace. May his soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.