WELL-KNOWN PIONEER

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 493, 30 June 1932, Page 8

WELL-KNOWN PIONEER

Death Announced of Mrs J. Armstrong. The death occurred yesterday at Sr home, North Road, Amberley, of Mrs John Armstrong, an old resident of the district, in hef eighty-seventh year. Born and reared in Rogart, Sutherlandshire, Mrs Armstrong, then Miss Jessie Mackay, came to New Zealand n the Mermaid, early in 1869. Some five ■ears later she married Mr John Armstrong, then of Cheviot. In 1878, after holding some places of trust in the Mackenzie Country, Mr Armstrong took position on the Seadown Estate, Amberley, which he held for many years before the family settled in their own residence on the North Road. Mrs Armstrong, who was widowed in 1901, spent over thirty years in Amberley, where she whs helpful in many ways, especially in support of the Presbyterian Church. Of strong and independent character, she made many friends. Robust and active, her vitality unimpaired till near the end, shd died after a brief illness. She leaves a family of four: Misses Christina M. and Nordina J. Armstrong, Mrs Ronald Symonds (Waipara) and John Armstrong (Woodstock). Late Mrs M. E. Grose. The death occurred recently, after a short illness, of Mrs Mary E. Grose, a well-known identity of Christchurch. She had been a resident of the Dominion for fifty-seven years. Her husband, the late Mr Theodore A. Grose, predeceased her by eight years. As a young married couple, Mr and Mrs Grose arrived in Dunedin from Plymouth, Devonshire, in 1875, after a voyage of 104 days. Coming north to Christchurch some years later, the remainder of their lifetime was spent here; and on Mr Grose’s retirement, he and Mrs Grose took up their residence in Worcester Street, Linwood. Four sons and four daughters survive them; Messrs T. A. Grose (Papanui), T S. Grose (Linwood), R. S. B. Grose (Auck land), and W. J. Grose (Masterton) and Mesdames F. Fuller, E. MacK. Wealleans, J. Shatford and O. H. Partridge, all of Christchurch. The grandchildren number twenty-six and there are three great-grandchildren. Late Sister M. De Pazzi. The death occurred on Tuesday at the Leeston Convent of Sister Mary De Pazzi, after a lengthy illness. She was a v highly qualified teacher and held the degree of Master of Arts and the Diploma of Education of the University of New Zealand. She was head teacher at St Joseph’s School, Christchurch for many years, and she also taught in a secondary school belonging to the church at Napier. Sister De Pazzi, who had lived in Leeston for three years, was a sister of the Rev Father M’Loughlin, parish priest at Stratford, who is at present in the district on a visit. The funeral took place yesterday, solemn Requiem Mass being celebrated at the Catholic Church in the morning.