The death has occurred of Noreen Henderson Trillick on June 18, a much-loved mother, grandmother, sister and aunt.

Noreen was born on May 25, 1942, the fifth of six children of Bobby and Annie Elliott at Aughna, Moybrone, Letterbreen.

The family then moved to her beloved home at Lisbofin House, Letterbreen, where she lived with her parents, brothers John and Robert, and sisters Myrtle, Dorothy and Maud.

She enjoyed a strong network of extended family and spoke fondly of her childhood as well as her admiration for her parents’s work ethic and devotion.

Noreen attended Corryglass Primary School before moving to the Model Primary, Enniskillen and later the Collegiate Grammar School.

Due to a prolonged illness as a teenager, she missed almost a year of her education, so after achieving her Junior Certificate she completed her education in Enniskillen Technical College.

During her time in school, she made many life-long friends and often shared many happy reminiscences of those days with her family.

Noreen took up employment in JJ Scott and Son (Sligo Road, Enniskillen) as an office clerk.

The business was taken over by Cavendish Furniture Store, enabling Noreen to have a period of training and employment in Belfast before returning to work in Enniskillen.

Church organist

Noreen committed her life to Christ in her early teens, was a church organist and Sunday School teacher in Letterbreen Methodist Church, and enjoyed being a member of Christian Endeavour (C.E.), through which she made many friends.

It was through attending C.E. events that she met her future husband, Wesley Henderson.

After their wedding in March, 1967, she moved to Shanmullagh, Trillick, giving up her office job to work on the busy family farm.

Children

Noreen was blessed with six children – Anne, Dorothy Jane (who sadly died in infancy), Richard, Ruth, Margaret and James.

She also cared for her father-in-law, George, for 20 years until his death in 1987.

Whilst she was saddened by the loss of her second child, Dorothy Jane, she always felt blessed by her five surviving children, and supported them tirelessly in their education and many interests as they grew up.

After her marriage, Noreen quickly entered into the fellowship of Togherdoo Methodist Church, eventually becoming the organist at evening and subsequently morning services.

A few years later she was instrumental in setting up and leading a Young People’s Christian Endeavour group in Togherdoo – a role she relished, and to which she devoted many years, eventually becoming the President of the local Enniskillen and District C.E. Union.

Noreen also engaged fully in the life of the community around Trillick and Dromore, singing in choirs, playing the organ on special occasions in local churches, and conducting the Trillick YFC choir, amongst other things.

She was a member of Togherdoo MWI, sat on the Leader’s Board, and attended the weekly Bible Study (most recently via Zoom online meetings).

Parties

She enjoyed baking, loved to entertain and host family events, and was known for organising parties and events for the young people with whom she worked in church.

Noreen was a loving and dedicated mother, a kind and caring neighbour, and had a Godly influence on all who knew her through her encouragement as well as practical support.

As time went on, she became an invaluable support to her family, helping out with the care of her increasing number of grandchildren.

She instilled in them a love for the Lord, a love of country life, a great work ethic and an appreciation for music and good food. She had an infectious laugh and loved light-hearted fun.

Noreen worked with Wesley and her sons on the family farm, even after they ‘retired’ to their home at Moorfield in 2006.

Sadly, Wesley passed away in October, 2010, after a short illness, during which she dutifully cared for him.

She continued to enjoy an independent and busy life as a grandmother despite some health issues until her health began to fail more significantly in November, 2020.

She drew strength from her faith and the help of her family, and enjoyed the company of the carers who came to support her in what turned out to be her last few weeks.

She had attended her beloved Togherdoo for a children’s service at the start of June, and had enjoyed recent trips out to appointments, so it came as a shock when her health once more took a dramatic downward turn on June 13.

Her family had a few blessed final days with her before she passed away at her home on the morning of June 18.

Noreen’s funeral service was held in Togherdoo Methodist Church. The funeral arrangements were carried out in a very dignified manner by Marcus Madill (S. R. Elliott & Sons).

The family were humbled by the large numbers who stood along the route to the church, which was testament to the high esteem in which she was held.

The family are indebted to the church members and members of the community who set out chairs, set up the PA system, sent food to the home, or helped in any other way during those difficult few days.

The services at the house and church were led by Mr. Gareth Hayden (assisted by his wife, Rev. Eleanor Hayden), who gave a fitting recount of Noreen’s life and character, much of which she had penned herself in a letter left for her family.

The hymns were her own choice, ‘In Christ Alone’, ‘When the Roll is Called Up Yonder’, and her childhood favourite, ‘Beneath the Cross of Jesus’.

Psalm 23 was the text for the address, again her own choice. At the interment service in the adjoining graveyard, family and friends sang ‘Amazing Grace’.

Families

Noreen is survived by her five children and their families, Anne and Joe (Rachael, Timothy and Matthew), Dullaghan, Dromore; Richard and Sonya (Jack, Charlie and Isaac), Cabragh, Trillick; Ruth and Floyd (Emma, Rebekah and Tom), Killinkere, Co. Cavan; Margaret and Stephen (Joshua and Noah), Doagh, Co. Antrim; and James and Esther (Harry James, Bobby, Eddie and Liliana), Shanmullagh, Trillick.

She also leaves her sister, Myrtle, Tandragee, and brother Robert (Florence, Herbert, Jayne and John), Letterbreen, Donacloney and Stratford; brother-in-law Jack (Terence and Brian), Newtownards and Whitehead; nieces and nephews Lilian, Wesley, Maureen, Alan, USA and Canada, nephew James, Tandragee and niece Jacqueline, Belfast.

She is predeceased by her brother John and his wife Elizabeth, Belfast; sister Dorothy and her husband Jim, Ballyclare; sister Maud and husband Ronnie, Mosside; sisters-in-law Peggy and Alice, brother-in-law Jack and brothers-in-law Jim and Crawford, and their wives Gladys and Margaret.

“She always sought to serve Christ and the Church, which is the C.E. motto” were the last words she penned in her life story left for her family and, as such, these summed up her life.