Cafe pioneer Mary McNabb dies
The mastermind behind one of Manawatu¯’s beloved cafes has died.
Mary Mcnabb was the pioneer who established Feilding’s Rosebowl Cafe with her son, Robert, in 1968.
She died on December 12 at Wimbledon Villa, aged 95 years, after a short battle with illness.
Although the cafe remains in her family, Mcnabb hung up her apron when she was 92.
Selena Mcnabb had worked alongside her grandmother since 2001 and said she was a cheerful woman who lived for her clients.
‘‘She loved interacting with people and she didn’t have much outside of work.
‘‘She worked alongside Dad and they built it from there. She did everything – serving, making sandwiches, dishes, coffee.’’
Mary Ncnabb fronted the money for a small building on Fergusson St when her son was searching for a new career in the 1960s.
When her husband Stanley died in 1973, Mary came off the farm and moved into town. Work became her life.
Throughout her 50 years behind the counter, her family would often play tricks on her, such as making her wear
Although the cafe remains in her family, Mcnabb hung up her apron when she was 92.
Christmas hats, antlers and aprons.
‘‘She had a great sense of humour... and she could laugh it off.
‘‘Work was her social outing for the day.’’
Mary’s memory began to deteriorate and she was unable to cope when the cafe moved to another building on Kimbolton Rd in 2018. The cafe made national headlines when head baker Derek Mcnabb combined two icons of Kiwi convenience into one to create the doublecheeseburger pie.