A well-known and accomplished flower arranger in Fermanagh, Tyrone and farther afield, Mrs. Betty Berney, whose long held talents were recognised with awards at local, national and international level, has died.

Late of Breandrum Court, Enniskillen, the highly regarded figure’s death took place peacefully at the South West Acute Hospital, Enniskillen, on March 17, 2015.

Born on April 9, 1928, she was the second daughter of the late Thompson and Marian Farrelly. She was brought up in Henry Street, Enniskillen, and she was educated at Jones Memorial School and Enniskillen Technical School.

Betty worked in Coopers of The Diamond for about 10 years, until her marriage in 1953 to Dr. Allan George Berney at Rossorry Parish Church, Enniskillen, where she had been christened and confirmed; Archdeacon Pratt officiated at the marriage ceremony.

Betty became a skilled home-maker for her husband, two children, Cora and the late George, and mother-in-law. She was supportive of her husband’s medical career and post-graduate studies, which saw their relocation to London for 12 years. They moved back to Ireland in 1965 to live in Enniskillen for a few years, and then Fivemiletown long-term. The late Dr. Allan Berney served as a GP in Fivemiletown for a great many years.

Betty enjoyed a long happy marriage of 56 years; Allan passed away in 2009. Betty then moved to Enniskillen to enjoy a modest social life and rejoin the Rossorry Parish Church congregation.

Her Christian faith had always been a central part of her life, with very regular attendance at Sunday worship. She was a keen member of the Mothers’ Union for many years, and she had a preference for Church/Sacred music. In her senior years, she enjoyed Songs of Praise on television.

Charity work was important to Betty, who was very much involved in charitable efforts throughout her life. She was awarded the Save The Children Long Service medal by the Princess Royal, Princess Anne in Hillsborough Castle. She used her flower arranging skills and organising talents to raise money for charities and churches.

Over the years, she was very involved and skilled at flower arranging, and she was recognised with many honours.

She enjoyed membership of a number of clubs, including being a member and past chairperson of Dungannon Club, and she was a founder member of Erne, Fivemiletown and Omagh Clubs. She was a founder and past executive committee member of NIGFAS (Northern Ireland Group of Flower Arrangement Societies) and was awarded Honorary Membership of NIGFAS in 1989.

She won many prizes over the years in local, national and international competitions. Recognition included that at Balmoral Show, Belfast Castle and so on. Accolades were also achieved by Betty in the National Association of Flower Arrangement Societies (NAFAS) and the World Association of Flower Arranging Societies (WAFAS.) In relation to Festivals, she worked in a group of flower arrangers who used their flower arranging talents and organising skills in many festivals to raise money for churches and charities, for example, Westminster Abbey, Canterbury Cathedral, Kensington Palace, stately homes, parish churches and exhibition halls.

Betty also gave flower demonstrations to raise money for charity, while she also organised teachers to give demonstrations and classes in flower clubs.

For Betty, flower arranging as a hobby, afforded her the opportunity to interpret competition themes and Church Scriptures in imaginative ways. She enjoyed using foliage, flowers and accessories as a painter’s palette to create flower arrangements. Teaching and learning new ideas also appealed to Betty, who formed many good friendships.

In addition to flower arranging, her hobbies included being talented at cooking, knitting, dress-making, embroidery and tapestry work. She liked painting in oils, water-colours and acrylics. A few years ago, she undertook a short jewellery making course.

Her funeral service at Rossorry Parish Church was led by Canon David Skuce. Surviving Betty are her daughter Cora, and her sister Rita Farrelly. She was predeceased by her husband Allan and her son George, and also by her brothers, Thompson, Wilton and Lewis and her sister Sadie.

The funeral arrangements were by Funeral Directors, S.R. Elliott and Sons, Darling Street, Enniskillen.