Devoted mother Georgina was a woman of great faith
THERE was widespread sadness recently following the death of Georgina Phyllis Jacob. Georgina nee Ross died peacefully at her home in Dunsinane, Enniscorthy, at the age of 86. Born on November 10, 1930 in Riverpark, Moate, Co Westmeath Georgina was the fourth of eleven children born to John and Emily Ross.
The couple had four girls and seven boys - Edie, Vicky, Robbie, Georgina, Edward, Eric, Charlie, Don, Ben, Dick and Florence. After growing up on the family farm and primary schooling in Moate, Georgina attended Celbridge school in Maynooth as a boarder and it was here that she met and made some of her very good friends, friendships which lasted a lifetime.
After school she moved to Dublin to attend teacher training college on South Anne Street and as a newly qualified primary school teacher she was posted to Wexford teaching initially in Killanne, then Ballycanew and Gorey where she became principal. She often spoke to her children about the time she lived in Gorey and taking trips out to Courtown and to dancehalls around the county. Georgina was introduced to her late husband Bertie by Sheila Milne at a rugby match in Dublin and they were married in August 1959. She moved into Dunsinane with Bertie and his parents, putting her teaching career on hold.
Her love of teaching did not diminish however and in between raising her children and keeping food on the table Georgina decided to start a nursery school in Dunsinane. A very progressive woman, Georgina was ahead of her time in this regard and children were delivered by relieved mothers from as far afield as Bunclody. What started out initially as three mornings a week quickly turned into five mornings a week for the next 20 years.
Georgina and Bertie worked hard alongside each other putting their six children through boarding school while Georgina also cared for her mother-inlaw and father-in-law. It wasn’t until their family was reared in the late 80s that Georgina and Bertie were able to travel abroad having contented themselves with family holidays to Rosslare while their children were young.
They visited family members and travelled to America, Canada, Hong Kong, Beijing and Australia with the visit to the Great Wall of China being one of Georgina’s travelling highlights. A very family orientated woman Georgina lived for her family and when her 16 grandchildren came along she loved having them around. Her teaching background stood her in great stead and she was exceptionally good with children.
She was a woman of great faith, very active in the local Mother’s Union and a key instigator of the Strawberry Lunch for Templescoby church. Dunsinane was always a busy house with many visitors and people enjoyed visiting and Georgina’s hospitality.
She loved a good chat and ensured everyone felt included. Despite the long hours and the busy farm life, Georgina made sure her children had time for other interests including sport. She was a keen supporter of Bertie’s passion for rugby which was passed on to their sons, while daughter Hazel enjoyed ponies. She was keen that her children had the opportunity to work outside the family farm.
Whether it was picking fruit for their neighbours or securing summer jobs in fruit factories and local businesses, she was the one who got them going and made it happen. As a teacher, education was very important to her and she encouraged her children to work hard in school and pursue further studies. She encouraged them to travel and visit places that she and Bertie never could. She was also a tremendous letter writer.
She was a very keen gardener and was often out in the garden tending her roses. While Georgina left most of the farming to Bertie she had a keen eye for a good animal and always inspected the Herefords after they were washed before they headed for the shows. She was a great support to Bertie and loved being part of the farming community, participating in the local ICA. Georgina was a very caring person, always thinking of others and visiting many relatives and neighbours when they were ill. In addition to caring for her in-laws she also cared for Bertie in later years.
A woman with a dry sense of humour she was firm yet kind with a great interest in people. She was predeceased by her husband Bertie and survived by her loving sons Mervyn, Glenn, Ian, Dermot and Trevor and daughter Hazel, brothers Robbie, Edward, Eric, Charlie, Ben and Dick, sister Edie, daughters-in-law Janice, Lola, Siobhan, Jenny and Nicola, son-in-law Axel, grandchildren, relatives and friends.
Her family would like to thank everyone who has helped Georgina in recent times, donated to dementia research, sympathised with them and sent many cards and good wishes with fond memories of Georgina.