Honeymoon couple buried; 400 attend

Press, 22 September 1987, Page 6

Honeymoon couple buried; 400 attend

PA Palmerston North More than 400 people yesterday attended the funeral of a honeymoon couple in the church where many sat nine days earlier to watch their wedding. Geoffrey and Rowena Muir died in their Rotorua motel last Thursday while on their honeymoon, from suspected hydrogen sulphide gas poisoning.

Rowena Muir was buried in her wedding dress. On the coffin lay her skates, helmet and hockey stick — reminders of her goalkeeper’s position with the Kiwi Skating Club.

The Rev. Peter McCrae, who officiated at the funeral and had married the pair, said the Muirs were a happy couple who had every-

thing to look forward to in life.

“They had chosen the phrase, ‘as long as we shall live* Instead of ‘until death do us part’ for the ceremony,” he said.

“Who could have foreseen on that happy day, surrounded by family and close friends, that in five short days they would be found in each other’s arms, asleep in death.”

Geoffrey Muir, aged 20, a chef, Mrs Muir, aged 21, manager of a coffee shop, met when they worked together at the Majestic Hotel, Palmerston North. Workmates, friends and family crowded Our Lady of Lourdes Church at yesterday’s service. The couple were later buried at Palmerston North’s Kelvin Grove cemetery.