- Matriarch laid to rest
PATRICK BILLINGS
27 Nov, 2009 10:20 AM
It is a rare thing to hear applause during a funeral but as Brian Gainsford finished the eulogy for his mother Grace, who passed away last week, that is exactly what happened.
A loud ring of applause filled St Augustine’s Church on Wednesday as family, friends and those who were touched by Grace laid the 94-year-old matriarch to rest.
The grief of family and friends cannot be understated but Grace’s death also gave time to reflect and celebrate a life full of contribution until the end.
“Mum was a very good community person, actively involved in lot of organisations in leadership roles,” Mr Gainsford said.
“Mum had a very special talent in welcoming new people into our town and district making sure they felt comfortable in their new community.”
As a “social butterfly” Grace also loved entertaining, making the family residence a “a home not a house - a legacy she left us all’’.
“You were guaranteed a cup of tea and cake,” Mr Gainsford said.
Born in Narromine during the First World War to Marcus and Lena Reakes, Grace was the 10th child in a family which ultimately bore 15 children.
Life on the family homestead of ‘Brooklyn’ was tough but it was equally measured by a sense of humour that saw the Reakes clan through trying times.
In 1939 Grace married Ken Gainsford who shared her interests in sport, farming and hard work. Ken brought three children into the marriage before the couple had their only child, Brian, together. When her friend Margaret Jarvis passed away aged 25 the couple took her child Jenny under its wing and raised her on ‘Yarran Farm’ where they lived for the next 35 years before retiring into town.
“Mum knew all the elements that go with living life on the land and was very supportive in securing their future in farming and establishing Dad’s three sons with their own properties,” Mr Gainsford said.
“Mum made a lot of sacrifices and went through a lot of hardship for all this to come to fruition.”
Despite the hard times Grace devoted whatever spare moments she had to strengthening the Narromine community both through sport and kind-heartedness.
Earlier this year Grace was recognised with 50 years of service to the Red Cross and was involved with the CWA, the Circle Club, St Vincent de Paul and the Narromine Show Society as well as several parishes.
These commitments didn’t impinge on her sporting pursuits such as tennis where she was described as a “terrier” around the court. She was a tennis club member for 28 years, and served as bowling club president for four years and vice president for 10 years during her four-decade- long association with the club. Grace also excelled in the male bastion of cricket playing for the Backwater Women’s team as wicket keeper and batsman alongside her two sisters. In later years she became a great follower of sport particularly her granddaughter, Melinda Gainsford-Taylor’s, athletic career.
Considering her own sporting endeavours it wasn’t surprising that Grace lived to the age she did and it was only in the later years that the ailments of old age finally took their toll. Last year she moved into Timbrebongie House where she earned the mutual respect of staff.
“In this life there are plenty of things you can have more than one of - but you can only have one mum,” Mr Gainsford said.
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GeniAus' Family Site
1915 - Bef 2009 (< 94 years)
