DEATH OF LADY BRETT

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 75, 26 September 1932, Page 11

DEATH OF LADY BRETT

LONG LIFE OF SERVICE

Within a few days of her ninety-fiftt birthday,' Lady Mary Brett, widow oi Sir Henry Brott, passed' away in hei sleep on Saturday. ' It was.' a peaccfu ending to a life characterised by re raarkable vitality and a high regarc of the Christian principles-of devotioi :'nd charity (states the" "Aucklanc Ktar"). The toll of longevity was cvi denced only in recent years, and despite lter frailty Lady Brett maintained ai active interest in a wide, circle 6J friends. Her devotion was manifestec throughout the active life of her hus band, who predeceased her in January 1927, and in the romarkable manner'ir which she remembered, her descendants Although they numbered over 50, nevei a birthday of any one <jf them passcc without some gift of recognition froir her. Unostentatiously she wa*s a gen erous benefactor to jiny worthy cause her most recent gift being the .altar tc the Seamen's Mission, opened thi< month. , - Lady Brett was t#ie daughter of the late James and Mary Moon, of West field, Sussex. She was born on 2nd Oc tober, 1837, tho year in which Queei Victoria ascended the Throne. Ilej mairiagc took place at St. Paul's Auckland, in Novomber, 1864, a fou days after her arrival in Auckland During her early married life she en dured the primitive amenities of the pioneering days. At her first home ii Nowton, for instaiico, cooking was don« in a camp oven in tho yard. She cole brated tho diamond anniversary of hei wedding with Sir Henry Brett' in 1924 at their beautiful home, "Te Kite roa,'» Lake Takapuna, where she livec the greater portion of her life. During these many years Lady Brett was a devoted parishioner of St. Peter's Church. For-a: long .time she was the guidmg spirit of the Ladies' Guild which annually raised-substantial sums for the various, activities of the church The beautiful stained glass window ir tho east wall of St. Peter's Church and-the smaller ono in the north wall were her gifts.,-;.Tho organ was pre sentea by tho late Sir Henry Brett. Possessed of wonderful vitality untt well advanced in 'years, Lady Bretl ever took keen interest in the' wort of the _ church, with great persona generosity. Sho was esteemed bj vicar, church o.ffice'r'sj and parishioners and nothing ; seemed to afford hej greater pleasure than to assist in an\ good work going on in the parish. Of hex- family of thres sons and three daughters, she is survived by Messrs Arthur and.Alfred Bretfr, Mrs.' W J Bainßer.and Mrs. Walcott Wood Mr Harry Brett and Mrs. Peter Wood pre deceased her. ■ There are-21 • grand children and 31 great-grandchildrer living. . •■ r ..... Lady Brett .was the eldest dauehtei of a family of ■ eight, two of whom Mrs. Emily Porter and Mr. Mark Moon both of Auckland, alone survive her Another sister; Miss Charlotte Moon a devoted companion for many years died two years ago at Lady Brett'homo, in Epsom avenue, where she hac hyed-after the death of'her-husband