DEATH OF MRS. J. W. BOON

Taranaki Daily News, 28 April 1930, Page 11

DEATH OF MRS. J. W. BOON

PROMINENT CHURCH WORKER. Mrs. Elizabeth Jane Boon died at her residence, Buller Street, New Plymouth, on Thursday. She was the wife of Mr. Josephiah Wedgwood Boon, and was 84 years of age. • A native of Cornwall, Mrs. Boon arrived in Auckland 83 years ago. She was the youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. Walters, of New North Road. She wias married to Mr. Boon, the only son of Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Boon, of “The Grange,” Mt. Eden, in Whau Road Wesleyan Chapel'(where the Kingsland Methodist Church now stands) on April 24, 1886, by the. Rev. John.. Warren, and it was a remarkable occurrence that her death took place on the 64th anniversary of her marriage, and almost at the hour corresponding with that of the marriage ceremony.. _ ■ Both Mr.:'and,Mrs. Boon were associ-. ated with the ..pioneering work' of the Methodist Church Maa Auckland, or as it was then, known, the Wesleyan Chiirch. Mrs. Boon was always a zealous chureh worker, and much of her work in the early days was associated with the church in connection with which services were held, in a small rough stone whare. In 1857 Mr. Walters'made a gift pf a site for a chapel,- which was. subsequently erected and opened , free of debt. That was on the. site of the present Kingsland Church. Mr. Walters opened a Sunday school, and ,it was there that his youngest daughter (Mrs. Boon) became engaged as a teacher and became a very popular worker in all the activities of the church and Sunday school, but more especially-among the young people up to the time she was married and removed from the locality. After her marriage she retained.her ac'-. five interest in church and temnerance work. In her later days she.-was actively interested in the women’s organisations of the church. Until recently she had been among the most regular attendants at Whiteley Memorial Jhureh, in the services of which she has, since illhealth laid her aside, been greatly missed.

Mrs. Boon is survived by her husband and six chidldren —Messrs. Alf. Boon (New Plymouth), J. W. Boon (Stratford) and R. W. Boon (Whakatane), Mrs. R. C. Whitham (Mt. Eden, Auckland), Mrs. T. H. Wilson (Portland Whangarei) and Mrs. P. H. Webber (Whangarci). The late Mr. J. W. Boon, New Plymouth, who died a short time ago, was her eldest son. There are 27 grand-children and 12 great-grand-chil-dren in the family.