A much loved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, friend and neighbour Barbara Creighton passed away peacefully on Sunday, September 25, 2016 at her home at “Wayford”, 63 Chanterhill Road, Enniskillen.

She was in her 92nd year and had enjoyed good health until relatively recently. 

Born Barbara Mary Addy on November 8, 1924 in the Old Catton district of Norwich she was the first child of Ada (née Birch) and Reginald Addy. Her father had survived the Great War after serving with the Norfolk Regiment at Gallipoli, Egypt and Palestine.

When Barbara was two years old the family moved to the small market town of Stalham on the Norfolk Broads where Reginald opened a bicycle shop. The family expanded with the arrivals of Barbara’s sister Mollie and brother Neville. 

When she left school Barbara wanted to become a nurse, but given her aptitude for figures she was encouraged by her mother to work in the bank in nearby North Walsham. Her nursing vocation would return years later, meanwhile World War II intervened and saw Barbara join the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF). Based in Watford she performed a vital role in the war effort tracking and plotting the locations of German aircraft. 

After the end of the war, still only 21 years old, Barbara met handsome RAF officer Tom Creighton from Enniskillen, ten years her senior and eldest son of Elizabeth and William H. Creighton proprietor of the furniture shop in Victoria Buildings on Belmore Street. After a whirlwind romance Tom proposed on a visit to Kew Gardens in London and they married in Watford on April 22, 1946.

Tom was granted a transfer back to Enniskillen where Barbara became mother to Maureen as she and Tom set up their first home at Orchard Terrace close to her in-laws at the Pound Brae. Soon they had three daughters under the age of four with the arrivals of Sheila followed by Jill, before completing their family with a son Terry.

By this stage Tom had returned to civilian life and established his own furniture shop in Church Street. The family settled at a new home “Ard na Grena” on Chanterhill Road with Barbara’s in-laws re-locating next door.

Life was good as Barbara made friends through Tom’s business circle and her involvement with women’s work in Enniskillen Methodist Church. Summers were spent between the Foxhole caravan park in Rossnowlagh and Barbara’s family in Stalham. The couple shared a love of golf with Barbara serving as Lady Captain of Enniskillen Golf Club in 1974 and she also used her finance skills to help with the books in the shop. 

Her nursing instinct was revived as she began a longstanding association with St John Ambulance and the Erne Hospital where she was a volunteer in the weekly orthopaedic clinic. Her contributions over the course of 45 years were ultimately honoured with the award in the Millennium New Year’s Honour’s List of an M.B.E. for services to the health service which she received at Buckingham Palace accompanied by her daughters Maureen and Sheila.

Barbara became a grandmother at the age of just 41 and her four children gifted her and Tom with seven granddaughters and two grandsons on whom they doted. Tom and Barbara moved the short distance to their final home at Drumclay which they named “Wayford” after the Norfolk beauty spot where they first met. Sadly Tom was soon diagnosed with terminal cancer and Barbara nursed him lovingly until his untimely death in March 1983, leaving her a widow at 58. 

Barbara took great comfort in her grandchildren who would bring her immense happiness for more than half of her life. She made several visits to Australia and to Canada, and kept busy socially through the church as well as regular lunches with her friends at South West College and evenings playing bridge.

She was an avid crossword fan and also a formidable opponent to her children and grandchildren at Scrabble. She rarely lost.

Cancer struck again in summer 1998 with the sudden and brief illness of Barbara’s beloved daughter Jill. It was a time of deep sorrow mixed with great joy as Barbara became a great-grandmother in the weeks before Jill died.

Barbara’s longevity into her 90s gave her the additional joy of eighteen great-grandchildren, each of whom she adored and they adored her in return.     

Barbara found a new outlet for her love of golf as she keenly followed the weekly tournaments on Sky Sports, with a particular interest in the Irish players. She was an avid follower of Premier League football too and spent many Sunday afternoons watching games with her grandsons, great-grandsons and neighbours. Family and friends learned to schedule their visits and phonecalls around the football, in particular whenever her favourites Liverpool were playing.  

Barbara bore her recent health problems with courage and dignity. She benefited greatly from the assistance of her family and carers which enabled her to remain living at home. She never lost her charm and retained her sharpness of mind, and wit, to the end. 

Barbara was also pre-deceased by her sister and brother and is survived by her children Maureen (Alan), Sheila (Ciaran), and Terry (Julie); her grandchildren Joanna (David), Sacha (Gary), Simon (Collette), Anna (Bob), Sarah, Matt (Becky), Sally (Rory), Kat (Clay), and Tanya (Alan); and her great-grandchildren Josh, Caoimhe, Alex, Harry, Katie, Paddy, Matthew, Jacob, Molly, Ben, Danny, Louie, Jordan, Aliyah, Ben, Ethan, Ryan and Micah.

Barbara’s funeral service took place in Enniskillen Methodist Church on Tuesday, September 27 and was conducted by Rev Sam McGuffin with scripture readings from representatives of the local congregation, WI and Methodist circuit; a poem and prayer recited by four of her granddaughters; and three hymns chosen by Barbara in the days before her passing. Burial followed in the family plot at Breandrum Cemetery.

The funeral arrangements were by S.R. Elliott and Sons, Darling Street, Enniskillen.
Donations in lieu of flowers were to Horizon West Children’s Hospice.