Kaikohe community stalwart farewelled
Kaikohe stalwart Patricia (Paddy) Rae Scully is being remembered for her strong sense of community, her contribution to Northland College and for being the matriarch of her family.
Paddy was born in Rawene on March 15, 1935 and was the only child of Trevor and Stancey Rowsell.
She grew up near Lake Omapere, and was the oldest of 23 Rowsell cousins, who were linked to the Rowsell and Rowsell Sawmill.
Paddy passed away after a short illness surrounded by her family in Hospice at Tikipunga on July 8 aged 82. She was farewelled by around 400 people at the Chapel of Squire Funeral Services in Kaikohe on July 12.
Cousin Yvonne Sharp says Paddy was always a vibrant girl, a great ‘doer’ and had the ability to pull people in to do things.
‘‘Although she was regarded as a disciplinarian, she was also held in great affection.
‘‘She was the matriarch of our generation.’’
Paddy was a foundation pupil at Northland College in 1947, then trained as a teacher in 1958, before commencing her post as a com- merce and typing teacher, retiring in 2006. She was instrumental in creating the Northland College Old Pupils group.
In 1964 Paddy married Patrick Scully, who she had met in Wellington, their first daughter Trixie was born in 1966, followed by Simone and Sean. Trixie says her mother knew everybody.
‘‘Everybody was an aunty or uncle. She kept the family together as a matriarch, working on the family tree, and she was always chasing people for updates on births, deaths and marriages.’’
Simone says she would always travel back to Kaikohe, from their retirement home in Opito Bay for errands.
‘‘Whenever something had to be donated, it had to be to the Kaikohe Hospice. Kaikohe was a big thing for her.’’
Simone says at the funeral she was told: ‘‘You realise you shared your mother, she didn’t stop caring after we left school and kept in contact.’’
Family friend Sally Macauley says Paddy was so proud of the town in which she had been raised.
‘‘Paddy not only raised her three absolutely gorgeous and very successful children… she also nurtured and educated a community.’’