HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2005-08-11, Page 9THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, AUGUST 11, 2005. PAGE 9.
Woman will be missed in community
On Monday, July 25, Mary East
lost her short, but valiant battle with
cancer. Her passing has left an
empty place in the lives of her large
family and her many friends. As her
daughter-in-law, Laurie noted, life
for Mary was all about family,
friends and community.
Mary lived some 40 years on the
Cemetery/Hydro Line just north of
Clinton. Typical of women of her
generation, Mary sewed, knitted,
gardened, preserved, cooked and
kept house for her husband, Harold,
and her six children. Her
resourcefulness and determination
served her well in those early days.
When the need to do things was no
longer present, it was a habit which
continued. Mary was always sharing
her baking, preserving and
handcrafts. It’s certain every
member of the East family, young
and older, and any number of
acquaintances has been gifted with
one of her afghans. Mary said it was
bad luck to return a plate empty and
any plate, dish or pot of food sent her
way came back filled in kind.
Mary was every family member’s
biggest fan. She took great delight in
any project, achievement, award or
happiness of her children or
grandchildren. Her children and
nieces and nephews recall fun family
times, drive-in movies, her guitar
playing, poem writing, berry
picking, gardening, etc.
Hers was a caring nature and
throughout her life she was always
present to offer help
whether to family or
neighbours. Life was
kind to Mary. Widowed
60s, Mary lost a daughter about the
and solace
friends and
not always
in her early
same time. For someone to whom
life was family, Mary struggled with
being alone. Her faith was no doubt
a great help to her.
Mary came to Londesborough
several years ago when she became a
caring companion to Gordon
Radford. She brought her cheerful
and caring nature wholeheartedly to
the community as well. Moreover,
she embraced his family and friends
as part of her life.
She joined the Londesborough
United Church and the UCW and the
quilting group was pleased to have
her add many stitches to their
projects. She served as president for
the Happy Gang Seniors for a term
and participated in their myriad
activities. The Cheerio Club was
another of her favourite outings.
Along with Gordon, Mary looked
forward to each September and the
annual Threshermen’s Reunion.
Winters in Florida were a treat she
talked much about. Another of her
passions was card playing whether at
the card parties or with those who
visited.
Mary was s.o used to helping with
someone else’s trouble, it was
difficult for her to realize this spring
that she was now the one needing
care. Her resilience and
determination drove her to continue
as usual. By the time Mary accepted
care, trouble had taken over and took
her away from us all.
Like Martha in the passage from
Luke read at her funeral service,
Mary was always concerned about
the comfort of others and the work
that needed doing. Life on earth has
been referred to as the main course
while heaven is the dessert a
Christian looks forward to. The fork
and spoon Mary took with her on her
final journey were a fitting token of
her life and faith.
Man digs up roots on Ireland trip
Honoured
Don and Kittie MacGregor were honoured by the
Londesborough Lions Club for their work with the youth
exchange program over the years. With them to accept the
recognition was Don’s mother Josephine who has been a
big support to the couple during their hosting experiences.
(Photo submitted)
North Huron eouneil briefs
Many folk follow the comic strip,
Hagar the Horrible, who supposedly
storms castles and brings home tQ
Helga his loot. What happens to the
folk who lost their home to these
medieval warriors? Through the
efforts of historians and genealogists
it is possible to trace one’s roots a
long way back. That is just what
Sam and Willie Dougherty did this
summer.
By the early 1600s, the Catholic
Doherty clan of Southern Ireland
had a settlement with castle and
keep. In 1608, the English stormed
the castle and routed them out of
their lands. Some who refused to
lose the lands they had worked
found it easier to become Protestant
and change the spelling of their
name to Dougherty. Others of the
clan dispersed and after 33
generations can be found worldwide.
Sam and Willie attended the fourth
ever Doherty/Dougherty reunion
since 1608. The organizer for this
reunion lives in Seattle, Washington.
There are 410 Doughertys off the
shores of Ireland. At this reunion
nine countries and 39 United States
were represented. The brothers met
Canadian relatives from Winnipeg,
Saskatchewan, Alberta and Toronto.
The current clan leader is an 85-
year-old Spaniard. His brother was
in attendance to speak to the group
on the opening day of the reunion in
Derry. There were 11 days of
activities for the attendees - planned
parties with dancing, speakers and
banquets. Other days the group
could take bus tours of southern
Ireland and Innishoven.
Remains of a Doherty castle can
be found in Buncrana.
All in all brothers learned much
family history and Irish stories.
Sam and Willie flew to Antrim,
just outside of Belfast on June 22
and spent a week on their own
touring points of interest in Ireland
before joining the reunion. They
report that there is still plenty of
unrest and heightened patriotism in
Ireland despite supposed talks of
truce.
They left Ireland on July 13,
following the annual Orangemen’s
celebrations. They report feeling
uncomfortable as July 12
approached especially when they
noticed more and more police
presence everywhere.
They watched the huge bonfires
for William of Orange which are lit
the evening of July 11 and are an
incitement for the parades that every
town has. Sam reports that there are
now splinter groups of the IRA,.
started by those who are feeling that
the original IRA is getting soft and
participating in truce talks.
One of the interesting things Sam
did outside of reunion activities was
to attend a “Blessing of the Graves”
- similar to our cemetery decoration
days. Graves in Ireland are marked
with a marble frame and posts inside
of which is gravel. Before this
blessing, all grave markers are
washed, polished and the site tidied.
Another day Sam helped a team of
rowers build their crafts. Currahs are
four-person racing boats 20 feet long
and four feet wide. The wood frame
is covered with canvas.
Council to tour
twp. facilities
Members of North Huron council
will be touring a number of the
municipality’s facilities on Sept.
2.
They will be touring the day care,
the museum, the Wingham trailer
park, the Belgrave Community
Centre, Blyth and District
Community Centre and
campgrounds, Blyth Memorial
Community Hall and the Wingham
cemetery.
The tour was recommended by the
health, social and cultural
committee.
of the no burning bylaw to the Blyth
District Fire Area Board for review
and comment and the municipal
representatives on the Wingham
Area Fire
continue their
meetings.
Board were to
discussion at board
♦**
Reeve Doug Layton and councillor
James Campbell would be attending
the great cookie bake-off and the
opening night of I’ll Be Back Before
Midnight on Aug. 18 at the Blyth
Festival Theatre.
*♦*
Council authorized the payment of
the bills and accounts for the period
ending July 28, in the amount of
$297,793.71.
**♦
Council authorized the paying of
the municipal levy in the amount of
$4,500 to the Belgrave Community
Centre board as budgeted.
Blyth Figure Skating
& Power Skating
REGISTRATION
***
The next meeting of council will
take place Aug. 22 and the next
recreation and facilities committee
and the health, social and cultural
committee meetings will take place
Aug. 29.
***
Clerk-administrator John Stewart
was authorized to send a draft copy
Now that Gordon Radfora has lost
his caring companion, he has taken
up residence on the retirement floor
at Queensway in Hensail. If you are
in that area, he would be pleased to
have you drop by to bring him up to
date on the Londesborough/Blyth
area and to reminisce. These warm
days he can be found outdoors on a
bench enjoying the season.
Sunday morning worship services
resume this coming Sunday, Aug. 14
at Londesborough United Church.
The outdoor services at the
Fellowship Bible Chapel continue
throughout the month of August as
well. Services begin at 7 p.m. every
Sunday evening.
Three million Canadians have a hearing loss.
I’m one of them.
Don Hacron heonng foundotion
To learn more about our medical
research and public education programs
and how you can help,
call 1-866 HEAR YOU, toll free.
s.
Saturday, August 20 10:00 am -12:00 noon
Wednesday, August 24 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
At the Blyth Arena
Any questions call Karin Hubbard at 523-9676
BCH MINOR HOCKEY
Bantam Aged Girls looking to play hockey
2005/2006 SEASON
(or Second Year PeeWee interested in playing
for the Bantam Age Group)
BCH Minor Hockey
is looking for any
interested players
** Coach already
in Place**
Contact Barb Dale at 482-3760;
as soon as possible