Deaths, The Sydney Morning Herald, 27 September 1945, p 12, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article17954357:

Bartley.—September 25, 1945, at Lewisham private hospital, Rev. Father John Cornelius Bartley, O.F.M., late of Maryfields, Campbelltown, beloved brother of Rev. Father Gerald Bartley (Adaminaby), Sister Mary Bernarda (Bethlehem Convent, Ashfield), Rev. Father Francis Bartley, S.M. (New Zealand), Dr. J.F. Bartley (Melbourne), Mrs. D. Jageurs (Melbourne), Mrs. C. Webb (Melbourne), Mr. Edward Bartley (Melbourne), and Mother Mary Evangelist (Bridgidene Convent, Albert Park, Melbourne), aged 67 years. Requiescat in pace.

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First Australian Franciscan Dies, Catholic Weekly, Sydney, 4 October 1945, p 5, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article146485718:

The death occurred at Lewisham Hospital on Tuesday of last week of the Rev. Father John Cornelius Bartley, O.F.M., who was in his 68th year.

Father Bartley was one of the first two Australian Franciscans. He was born at Bendigo on November 7, 1877, one of a family of 12 children, of whom three became priests and three nuns.

Father Bartley received his early education from the Christian Brothers in Melbourne, and, for a time, engaged in commercial pursuits.

40th Anniversary
He was accepted for the Franciscan Order in 1904 by the late Father Kennedy, and, with Father Basil Piper, went to the Franciscan Novitiate in Killarney. They were the first two Australians to become Franciscans. They were professed the following year. On September 17 this year, was the 40th anniversary of Father Bartley's religious profession.

Father Bartley went to Rome to continue his studies for the priesthood, but because of ill-health, he was forced to return to Australia.

In his native country his health improved sufficiently to enable him to continue his studies with the help of his brother, Father Joseph Bartley, of Broken Hill.

He was accepted by the Marist Fathers and completed his preparation for the priesthood in that Order, a debt which Father Bartley never tired of acknowledging.

Father Bartley was ordained on June 29, 1913, in Melbourne, by his Grace Archbishop Mannix.

Afterwards Father Bartley was stationed in one or other of the Franciscan Houses in New South Wales. He spent a short time in Queensland and in Victoria. During the last few years of his life he was in broken health, and resided at the Franciscan Novitiate at Maryfields.

Requiem Mass
Solemn Requiem Mass for the repose of his soul was celebrated at the Church of Mary Immaculate, Waverley, last Thursday by his brother, the Rev. Father Gerald Bartley. The Rev. Father Andrew Wogan, O.F.M., and the Rev. Father Peter Walters, O.F.M., were deacon and sub-deacon, respectively.

The Right Rev. Monsignor R. Collender, P.P., V.G., and the Right Rev. Monsignor P. J. Murphy, P.P., were present in the sanctuary.

Relatives present included Sister M. Bernarda and Mrs. C. Webb (sisters) and Mr. G. Webb (nephew).

Tributes to the life and work of Father Bartley were paid by the Very Rev. Father Solanus McNamara, O.F.M. (Provincial), who preached the panegyric.

The remains were interred in the Franciscan plot at Waverley Cemetery.—R.I.P.