The death has taken place of Miss Dorothy Freeland of 35 Inis Fold, Enniskillen, and formerly of Ardmore Heights, Omagh, at South West Acute Hospital, Enniskillen on Saturday, September 6. Born in Belfast on January 8, 1933, Dorothy was the only child of Charles and Mary Freeland.

At the age of 12 she moved with her family to Dublin, and so began a lifelong love of history. Attending Wesley College, Dublin University she obtained an Honours Degree in History and Political Science, and furthered her studies with the addition of a Higher Diploma in Education. She felt it a privilege to study at Trinity College Dublin, it being itself so steeped in history.

Dorothy’s teaching career began in 1956 in Armagh, before moving on to Ballymena. She was appointed Head of History in Enniskillen at Collegiate Grammar School in 1960 where she remained for six years.

Loving history as she did, she felt very much at home in historic Fermanagh where she was a member of the Field Club, the Choral Society, Debating Society, and a fledgling at the chess club.

In 1966, she left Collegiate Grammar to pursue adventures abroad, where she accepted several short-term contracts.

First she went to St. Hilda’s in Jamaica, a girls’ boarding school, as Head of History whilst also teaching English. She continued her adventures with visits to other islands in the Caribbean such as St. Kitts, Barbados and Trinidad.

She also visited Mexico and retained a keen interest in the events in the Caribbean.

She returned to Ireland to take up a temporary post in Queen’s University as Ashby Librarian. The following year she accepted the position of lecturer in Strabane Technical College teaching Current Affairs and English. After five years she transferred to Omagh College where she continued to teach and hold the position of Librarian. She enjoyed the library immensely because books were, as she put it, “meat and drink” to her.

She took two years leave of absence to study for the Diploma in Information and Library Science at Queen’s University going to Brighton Polytechnic for fieldwork. Returning to Omagh College, (which is now a constitute campus of South West College) she remained as Tutor until she retired in 1992. During this time Dorothy also enjoyed choral singing, and in addition was Secretary of the NI branch of the International Tree foundation.

Yet, recalling the happy memories of earlier years, Dorothy chose to live out her retirement in Enniskillen, so moved from Omagh approximately 15 years ago.

Dorothy was a founder member of Soroptimist International of Omagh, and transferred to the Enniskillen club when she moved there.

The Very Rev. Kenneth R J Hall (Dean of Clogher) officiated at the funeral service held at St. Macartin’s Cathedral, Enniskillen, on Wednesday, September 10, followed by cremation at Roselawn Crematorium, Belfast.

Donations in lieu of flowers, if desired, are to The Regional Soroptimist Charity “Mums for Mums” Ethiopia, c/o S.R. Elliott and Sons, Funeral Directors, 17 Darling Street, Enniskillen; S.R. Elliott and Sons carried out the funeral arrangements.