A much loved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, Mrs. Elizabeth Law, affectionately known as Lily, passed away peacefully at South West Acute Hospital on April 27, 2017, aged 85 years. 

Formerly McCallum, Lily was born on July 12, 1931, the elder of two children of Harry Barclay McCallum and Sarah-Jane, née Muldoon. Her father was from Barclay Street, Paisley in Scotland and travelled to County Fermanagh as a boy.

Lily and her brother Henry grew up on her father’s farm in the townland of Mullinasuggart near Kesh. Lily was educated at Ardess School. She was in her early teens when the Second World War came to Fermanagh. 

During the War, Lily’s family were devastated when Henry contracted polio. Lily took on the responsibilities of her younger brother, displaying the work ethic she retained all her life. 

After the War she was delighted when she was offered a place at North West Regional College in Londonderry, where she completed a course in Domestic Science.

Lily put the skills and knowledge she developed there to good use and she was renowned for her excellent cooking and baking, especially her home-made jams and apple tarts. 

She married Mr. Mervyn Law in 1952 and the couple made their home at his family farm Carn, overlooking Lough Erne. They were blessed with six children. Mervyn was a keen horseman and Lily particularly enjoyed hosting the Fermanagh Harriers when they hunted at Carn. 

Following her husband’s untimely death in 1973, Lily showed her characteristic inner strength in facing life without him, and with the help of her family and neighbours, she willingly accepted the challenges of running the farm.

In the 1980s due to the expansion of Carn quarry she decided to move from the farm house and built a new home at Barnalacken. This was not, however, retirement for her and she continued to help with the running of the business. 

As a beloved family matriarch, her new home remained the hub of family and farming life. Lily’s life revolved around her family and the farm. She took a great interest in her sons’ show cattle and was pleased when her grandsons also took up the hobby. 

Other leisure activities included knitting, letter writing and while her health permitted, she enjoyed gardening. She had an interest in current affairs and was a voracious reader. 

Outside the home, she enjoyed escorted tours with her daughter Joan to the Lake District and the Highlands of Scotland. 

Lily had been blessed with good health for most of her life; though she became less mobile in her 80s, she never lost any of her mental faculties. 

She was devoted to her grandchildren and attended their baptisms, confirmations and weddings and thoroughly enjoyed the regular visits of her great-grandchildren. 

The funeral service, held in Ardess Parish Church, was conducted by Canon Henry Blair who was assisted by the Reverend Philip Bryson. After the service, Lily was buried in the adjoining Church graveyard. 

The hymns were “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling”, “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” and “The Old Rugged Cross”.

Her grandchildren took part in the service with readings delivered by Victoria Roberts and Dr Ryan Law. 

Lily is survived by her children; Richard and wife Marion, Albert, William and wife Susan, Joan, Gerald and wife Joanne, and Rosie and husband Terry, her 16 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband Mervyn in 1973, her brother Henry in 1995 and her sister-in-law Gladys in 2008. 

The funeral arrangements were carried out by Austen Stinson, W.T. Morrison, Enniskillen who is acknowledged by the family. 
Donations in lieu are to Ardess Parish Church.