‘Fabulous’ fashion queen & confidante
Gore identity
ETHEL MONAGHAN (nee Gerken) will be remembered not only as a glamorous fashionista but also as a warm and funloving woman.
The former owner of Gore womenswear shop Estelle Rose died on February 27, aged 90.
Mrs Monaghan’s son, Steven, said his mother had an innate sense of style and was always immaculately groomed.
‘‘[She had a] wicked, earthy sense of humour,’’ Mr Monaghan said.
‘‘Mum treated everyone with the same respect and genuine care no matter what their circumstances.’’
Her daughter, Fiona Turipa, said her mother’s fashion sense was often ahead of its time.
‘‘A fabulous daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, friend and confidante,’’ she said.
Mr Monaghan’s wife, Lindy CavanaghMonaghan, said her motherinlaw was a largerthanlife character.
‘‘[Ethel had] an infectious, funloving personality . . . the complete antithesis of a snob, despite her glamorous appearance.’’
Mrs Monaghan was born in Kaitaia in May 1930.
Her father was the lighthouse keeper at Cape Maria van Diemen and her mother rode along Ninety Mile Beach on horseback to the maternity home.
The family of three moved to Knapdale when Ethel was 4 then moved to Gore, where her brother, George, was born.
After leaving Gore High School, her first fulltime job was in the office at Columbus Radio in Gore.
Even at this early stage, she was somewhat of a fashion leader, being one of the first young women in the area to wear trousers, referred to as slacks at the time, much to her father’s disgust, Mrs CavanaghMonaghan said.
She married Tom Monaghan in 1955. Once her children were at school, she began work at
H&J Smith. So began her journey as queen of the rag trade in Gore.
Her next job was at Julie Howard Gowns, in Irk St, which later became Estelle Rose. She eventually bought the business and ran it successfully for many years before deciding to retire at 80.
Her children described their mother as her own best advertisement.
They recalled their arrival at the Cromwell races each year was eagerly anticipated by racegoers keen to see what their mother would be wearing.
Estelle Rose was a huge part of her motherinlaw’s life, Mrs CavanaghMonaghan said.
‘‘She not only gave great fashion advice, she also became a friend and confidante to many customers.
‘‘She was a wise woman who was able to listen carefully and offer sound advice as well as being able to keep a secret — so much so that she was often the first to know of major life events such as engagements and pregnancies as well as things that were causing her customers angst.
‘‘People were naturally drawn to her downtoearth personal warmth and empathy and her great sense of fun.
‘‘A key requirement of working with Ethel was having an excellent sense of humour and gales of laughter could frequently be heard coming from the tiny back room adjacent to the counter.’’
— Sandy Eggleston/The