Wednesday 6 September 2023

Beatrice Joyce Gardiner, 1911-18/6/1932. "her long and trying illness"

 OBITUARY.

BEATRICE JOYCE GARDINER; Aged 21 years. 

The death took place early last Wednesday morning of Miss Beatrice Joyce Gardiner, younger daughter of Mr and Mrs Jas. W. Gardiner, very well known and highly respected residents of Queenstown. Over 12 months ago Miss Gardiner suffered a break-down in health, ever since which time she had been confined to bed. At some periods of her illness she appeared to be making good headway towards recovery, and hopes were entertained by her parents that she would win her way back to health. However, these hopes were never realised. During the last couple of weeks the sands of life commenced running low, and she passed very peacefully away, having retained consciousness up to the last.

Throughout her long and trying illness Miss Gardiner was wonderfully brave and patient. In spite of frequent set-backs, her spirits were always buoyant, and in times of great weakness she never gave way to complaining. Miss Gardiner, who was 21 years of age, was born in Queenstown, but she lived at the Head of the Lake till about 10 years of age, when her parents returned to Queenstown to reside. She received her education mainly at the local Public School. From her childhood she was interested in sport, and after leaving school she continued to take a prominent part in hockey, and later in basketball. In addition, the Rovers Club had the benefit of heir services as secretary during her active membership of that body. Of a very sweet, gentle disposition, she was a most popular girl among the young people of the town — a fact, which was evidenced in many ways prior to and during her long illness. Though she took an active part in sport, she did not neglect the arts associated with domestic life. She was a first-class needleworker and was also experienced in other home crafts. Nor was the more serious side of life neglected, for St. Andrew's Bible Class and other Presbyterian church organisations numbered her among their most consistent members.

The funeral took place on Thursday, when her remains were followed to the local cemetery by a very large cortege of town and district people. The little blue and silver casket was completely covered with wreaths and other floral offerings — simple but eloquent tributes to the esteem in which deceased and the members of the Gardiner family were held. Several other wreaths were carried by representatives of organisations with which Miss Gardiner had been associated. Among these were the Rovers Basket Ball Club, the Queenstown and Arrowtown Public Schools Basketball Clubs, the Queenstown Convent School Basketball Club, St .Andrew’s Bible Class girls, the Public School, and the Public School teaching staff. The Rev J. S. Murray, minister of St. Andrew’s Church, conducted the burial service.

Mrs Jas. C Cockburn is a sister and Mr Frank Gardiner a surviving brother of deceased.  -Lake Wakatip Mail, 21/6/1932.


Queenstown Cemetery.


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