Mary Jane Crozier, known as ‘Jean’, was born in The Villa, Trillick on September 22, 1926 – the youngest of six children of William and Margaret Crozier.

Jean attended Trillick Primary School and Enniskillen Model School, where she made some lifelong friends.

During her working life, she was employed as an Assistant Post Mistress in Ballinamallard Post Office, Garrison Post Office, and Enniskillen Post Office, followed by a career as a telephonist in the GPO, later named BT.

She then worked in the night staff of the telephone exchange, with a total of 20-plus years’ service with BT, including the post of Assistant Supervisor on the day staff of the Enniskillen telephone exchange.

She had married her childhood sweetheart, Robert McFarland (who came with his parents from the USA, the year of Jean’s birth) on April 26, 1949, in the Christ Church of Ireland, Trillick, and they were married for 74 years, having four children – Heather (late Bunny), Fiona (Wills) Rosemary (Geoffrey) and Walter (Linda), and 10 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren.

She looked after her in-laws for most of their lives when they all lived together. Everyone who visited got a warm welcome, with great hospitality, as her love of cooking and baking was well known.

Jean was interested in rowing in her youth on Lough Erne, cycling for miles, and later on she took up sugar craft icing and flower arranging.

She attended art classes after retirement and discovered her talent for landscape painting.

When the Enniskillen Show came round, Jean was enthusiastic in exhibiting and meeting people.

For her 25 years’ service as a volunteer at the old Erne Hospital, Jean was awarded the British Empire Medal.

A lifelong member of Tamlaght WI, Erne Flower Club, Fermanagh Gardening Society, and other craft and computer classes in later life, and up until her ill health, Jean enjoyed the U3A (University of the Third Age).

A keen sports participant, having played bowls in both Trory Hall and Methodist hall, Jean was competitive always, and made sure all her grandchildren had the game of Rummikub, and Scrabble, so she could play and beat them most of the time.

Jean was a member of her church choir in Darling Street and a member of the Methodist Womens’ Department (WD), currently named the MWI, where she was a great influencer and encourager.

Along with Robert, she attended the Bible study group, and prayer meetings, when health allowed.

With a positive Christian faith, a legacy of love and prayers sustained her family throughout their lives too.

Hailed as a wonderful, generous wife; a loving mother, mother-in-law and grandmother; a friend to many, and one who certainly lived life to the full, with travel to visit her Canadian and USA relatives, as well as going cruising, Jean appreciated all her life’s blessings, which she never forgot, and shared with her beloved Robert.