Mrs Florrie Maude

MRS Florence (Florrie) Maude, of Lissara Close, Crossgar, who died in hospital at the age of 86, was a popular and highly active member of the Crossgar community.

Florrie was born on May 25, 1930, in Cluntagh, Crossgar, and was raised by her mother, Minnie, to whom she was extremely close. She attended Ballytrim School, which she proudly referred to in later years as “the academy.”

She attended Miss Telford’s Secretarial College in Downpatrick and gained her first employment as a bookkeeper with a tea importer in Belfast. She then worked for Massers in Chichester Street, followed by Erskines in Ann Street.

In 1957 Florrie went on holiday with her mother to the Isle of Man where she met a handsome young man from Yorkshire. The rest was history. Florrie and Geoffrey were married in Lissara Presbyterian Church on August 8, 1959, and started their married life in Cluntagh. They were blessed with two daughters, Ruth and Carol, and moved to the Westlands estate in Crossgar.

Once Geoffrey had taught himself to drive, supervised by non-driver Florrie, who held a purchased driving licence, the family joined Christ Church, Kilmore.

She served on the vestry for over 40 years, rising to become honorary secretary, and was a faithful member of the church choir for a similar length of time. She was a member of the Women’s Fellowship and performed with the Kilmore Players. She was devoted to Kilmore Parish Church and its people and was very protective of the clergy.

Florrie had a fierce love for her family and home. She returned to work, despite her developing ill health, in order that her girls could attend the local grammar school.

She worked in the Civil Service in Downpatrick and joked that from her desk she could look over the school wall and keep an eye on her daughters’ antics.

In 1980 she was enticed away from the Civil Service to become receptionist in the doctor’s surgery in Crossgar.

This was a move that delighted her and she revelled in her role of helping the wider Crossgar community. Due to this devotion, Florrie was and remains highly respected in her community and many people will have fond memories of her time in the surgery.

In recent years, three of Florrie’s major joys were her grandchildren — Liam, Andy and Judith. At home Florrie was a dedicated home maker and was famous for her scones. She enjoyed pottering in her garden, feeding the birds and tending to her many pets over the years. She wasn’t one to sit around indoors and went out at every opportunity, especially enjoying her daily walks with Geoffrey in Delamont Country Park.

Florrie loved music and was very proud that she passed on that love to her daughters. Another big part of her life was Crossgar Women’s Institute, of which she was made an honorary member a few years ago.

Florrie was a person who loved people and was always ready for a chat or to lend a helping hand. She touched the lives of so many people.

Christ Church, Kilmore, was filled to capacity for the funeral service on December 30, which was conducted by the Rev Stephen Smyth.