A much loved mother and grandmother, Reba Corrigan, late of Joymount, Church Hill, passed away after a short illness on November 4, 2013. She had reached the wonderful age of 93 on May 2, 2013.

Reba was born on May 2, 1920, the fourth of seven children to Samuel and Eliza Jane Matthews of Mountjoy, Omagh, Co Tyrone. Reba attended Calkill Primary School and Omagh Model School. She then worked at home on the farm helping her mother and brother Charles. After her mother’s death in 1945, Reba went to Belfast City Hospital to train as a registered nurse. Shortly after qualifying in 1948 she commenced midwifery training at Belfast Jubilee Maternity Hospital and qualified in 1950. She worked in the Samaritan Hospital Belfast and then as a District nurse and midwife in the Newtownstewart and Coalisland area.

On September 18, 1953, Reba married Edward Cecil Corrigan of Church Hill and they made their home at Joymount, Church Hill, Enniskillen. They had three children Florence, Jean and James.

As a student nurse Reba enjoyed playing tennis. She was also a regular visitor at Rendezvous Christian Fellowship in Belfast.

In Church Hill Methodist Church, Reba was a Sunday school teacher and took responsibility for the Easter offering envelopes for the WD, now the MWA. She sang in the church choir for Harvest Services. Reba attended the Methodist conference regularly in Dublin, Belfast and Lurgan.

She was very hospitable to ministers and their wives and families and kept in close contact with them.

Reba regularly attended the Friendship Club which met each Tuesday in Church Hill Methodist Church.

Reba was very welcoming and hospitable particularly to the extended family beyond Fermanagh. She delighted in her three grandddaughters, Judith, Rebecca and Katy.

Reba was very gifted in craftsmanship, attending sewing and lace making classes, and learnt the craft of Inishmacsaint lace making at the tender age of 85 in Church Hill craft class.

Reba also knitted Aran jumpers and enjoyed doing crochet and rug making. She was a keen cook and baker as well as jam maker.

Reba created a beautiful collection of tapestries and paintings.

She also loved to travel and see new places including going to Oberammergau in 1980 to see the Passion Play.

She had many of the qualities of the lady in Proverbs 31.

After her husband Edward died in 2001, Reba remained in Church Hill until 2011 when, due to declining health, she moved to Belfast to live with her daughters Florence and Jean. After a short illness Reba passed away peacefully on November 4, 2013 in the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast.

The funeral service in Church Hill Methodist Church was conducted by Mr. Gareth Hayden. A tribute was delivered by the Rev. Alan Parkhill, a former son of the manse and valued family friend. The hymns were “What a friend we have in Jesus,” “How great thou art” and “Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father.” The readings were Isaiah ch 5 and Psalm 139. Mrs. Ingrid Logan and Mrs. Gillian Rutherford sang “I come to the garden alone.” The burial took place in Inishmacsaint Churchyard. Everyone was invited to join the family for refreshments in Derrygonnelly Methodist Church.

Mrs. Corrigan is survived by her daughters Florence and Jean and her son James and his daughters Judith, Rebecca and Katy. Also, her brother, the Rev. Dr. James Matthews, Castlerock, Co. Londonderry.

The family are very thankful to the Community health and social care staff for all the care and kindness shown to Reba in Fermanagh in the years prior to her going to live in Belfast.

They also appreciate the support of the carers in the Belfast Health Trust and the care by the hospital staff.

The funeral arrangements were by funeral director, Austen Stinson, W.T. Morrison, Darling Street, Enniskillen.