Mrs Muriel Rea

FAMILY and friends were shocked by the sudden death of Mrs Muriel Rea (née Morrow) on the morning of August 26, 2016. 

Muriel, who was 85, was born in the village of Annsborough on December 8, 1930, and was the first child of John and Muriel Morrow. They were blessed with three more children, making Muriel a sister to Tom, Phyllis and Robert.

She had a happy and loving childhood, and attended Annsborough School, which is still in existence today and is now known as Annsborough Integrated Primary School. 

Following her formal education, she started work as a solicitor’s clerk in Adair Solicitors, Belfast. It was during this period that she met her lifelong friend and soul-mate, Ronnie. 

After a seven-year courtship, Muriel and Ronnie were married in Castlewellan Presbyterian Church on August 16, 1962, and they remained devoted to each other. Indeed, they had just celebrated their 54th wedding anniversary days before her death.

Muriel and Ronnie moved to Downpatrick in 1964 and were part of the local community ever since. Muriel worked in the offices of the Down Recorder and later as a telephonist in the local RUC station. 

Muriel saw her role in life as looking after everyone, but none more so than Ronnie. She had a wide circle of friends, being a good friend to many, caring for their children and providing help and support in any way she could. She displayed a great sense of loyalty, once a friend always a friend. 

One of her great joys in life was music, especially church music. Muriel was a keen and active member of the Down Parish Church choir. Sadly, the choir dwindled in the last few years due to falling numbers. It was therefore a great tribute at her funeral that choristers assembled from the parish church and a number of local churches to lead the celebration of Muriel’s life. 

Muriel’s funeral was conducted by the Very Rev Henry Hull, Dean of Down, and at the service he read out a note received from the Rev Stuart Burns, a rector from the parish for seven years, who expressed his sadness at her death. He went on to say that Muriel was a very loyal, kind and generous friend to him and his family and that he always felt better after a chat with her. 

Muriel will be sadly missed by her husband, Ronnie, the family circle and all her dear friends.