Sadness in Downpatrick as couple married for 69 years die just weeks apart

Sadness in Downpatrick as couple married for 69 years die just weeks apart

18 January 2023

THE recent passing of well-known Downpatrick couple Brendan and Molly Rodgers has aroused much sadness and sympathy.

Mr Rodgers, who was 90, died on December 15 and Mrs Rodgers, who was 91, passed away three weeks later on January 8. Married for 69 years, they were devoted to each other.

There was much more to the couple than was perhaps generally known.

As a boy, Brendan won a scholarship to St Malachy’s College in Belfast, but was never too enthusiastic about school and ran away from home.

He wanted more time to build model airplanes and ended up in Dublin where he managed to get a job mucking out stables. His plan came apart when he pitched his tent in the Phoenix Park. The police picked him up and returned him safely to his distraught parents.

As a young girl, Molly attended elocution, piano and singing classes. She won an All-Ireland singing competition and a love of music and dance was to stay with her all her life. Her first job was as a book-keeper in her uncle’s furniture business, Bannon’s Furniture, in Belfast.

Molly and Brendan met in the famous Belfast ballrooms and dance halls. They married in 1953 and soon emigrated to Canada. They spent five very happy years in Canada where Brendan worked as a draughtsman with Westinghouse Canada. Despite the wonderful life, a young family and the Canada experience, Molly wanted to return to her family and in 1960 they came back to Ireland.

Brendan worked along with his father in a shop at Saul and in Supreme Stores in Downpatrick. Brendan also opened a shop at Raholp. Business was hard and Brendan had to supplement his income by working as a nurse in the Downshire Hospital.

Time consuming as the shops were, Brendan and Molly always found time for the odd game of golf or badminton. It was a matter of some amusement that Brendan carried his first golf club fee invoice in his wallet until his dying day.

During the 1960s and early 1970s Molly and Brendan’s family grew to nine children. Despite the demands of Brendan’s increasingly successful business interests, Molly and Brendan were, above all, dedicated to their family.

Together they raised their children, ensuring they were supported and educated to the full. Molly encouraged and supported them with energy and enthusiasm, and also found the time to care for her increasingly frail parents in Belfast.

In the late 1960s Brendan and Molly moved house from Saul to Downpatrick. This allowed Brendan to focus on and develop Supreme Stores into a busy newsagents, confectionery and toy store. With help and support from Molly, Brendan’s business interests were to expand further to include Zebedees Boutique and two filling stations in New Bridge Street and Market Street. Brendan often spoke with some pride on the number of local jobs he was able to provide.

Despite the increasing demands of the businesses, Brendan and Molloy, never lost sight of what life was about. The never lost focus on their family and continued to enjoy life. They loved getting away to Donegal and they loved playing both golf and badminton. Brendan helped found the local branch of the Royal Life Saving Society and was also an active member of Downpatrick Lions Club.

Brendan served as both captain and president of Downpatrick Golf Club and Molly served as lady captain of the club.

Having successfully raised their family, Brendan and Molly began to pull back from the relentless pressure of their business interests in the late 1980s. Molly returned to her music in the 1990’s and taught it successfully for almost 20 years.

Brendan and Molly were greatly admired and respected. They will be much missed by their loving family and many friends.

They are survived by their children, Brendan, Lewis, Gary, Keith, Arlene, Marcus, Derryl and Glenn, and the family circle. They were predeceased by another son, Warren.