THE death of Mrs. Rosie Carvill saddened many people in the Saintfield area and beyond. She was 81.
Born on September 9, 1933, the second daughter after five sons, she spent her early years at St. James’s Road, Belfast, and would later enjoy relating stories of her childhood and growing up in a large family.
Rosie’s ambition was to become a nurse and she enrolled in a pre-nursing course at Belfast College. Her father was a member of Belfast Council and was instrumental in establishing the course. She achieved her ambition by qualifying as an SRN on November 2, 1954.
She met Peter Carvill, from Saintfield, whom she later married on September 8, 1955. It was a double wedding celebration as her sister, Mary, got married to Joe Cummings.
Rosie and Peter moved to Saintfield and together took over the running of the family business, The Rosy Bar. Eventually, Rosie put her nursing career on hold to look after her father-in-law and care for her family. However, she was always on hand to offer advice, first aid and sympathy to those who needed it.
Not only did Rosie have a wonderful sense of humour, she was extremely thoughtful and renowned for her ability to write letters in which she expressed herself eloquently and compassionately.
After her husband’s death in 1992, she took over the position of patron of Saintfield Hockey Club and was also a member of the RNLI.
Rosie took the responsibilities of her positions seriously and was always on hand to do whatever was required of her for the good of the organisations. She regularly participated in street collections for the RNLI and also attended meetings in order to benefit such a worthy cause.
Rosie passed away peacefully on January 6 in Lagan Valley Hospital surrounded by her family. She was laid to rest in Carrickmannon Cemetery beside her beloved husband, Peter.
Rosie will be sadly missed by her sorrowing children, Peter, Margaret, Henry, Elizabeth and Paula, their partners, her beloved grandchildren and great granddaughter, and by the wider family circle.