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| Gwyneth Strayer |
Gwyneth Strayer
21st December 1916 – 2nd May 2017.
Born in Wales, but grew up in Glenfield, on the North Shore Auckland when it was
all farmland and metal roads - and no harbour bridge.
Her memorial service will be at 11 a.m. in the Whangateau Hall on
Saturday 6th May.
Gwyneth was the Plunket Nurse for Takapuna, North Shore of Auckland, for many years and retired in
her 60’s. She was known as being an exceptional Plunket Nurse especially for
babies with health problems and with her expertise would diagnose what was ailing them, where
often the doctors were at a loss. She loved her babies. Allergies, coeliacs, colic,
hip dysplasia, eczemas – she would design a routine, diet, exercise, or whatever,
for them all, and so many mothers, as I do, still bless her for her advice and cures and of her going out
of her way to help them.
I was fortunate enough that Gwyneth also became a family friend and she
gave me free access to her extensive library, on what would be now be called
alternative subjects - from natural therapies, to organic gardening and farming,
naturopathy to environmental subjects, to healthy house building. It goes on –
you name it she had studied it. She never stopped learning and was a
fascinating conversationalist, never matter what your age, colour, nationality
or religion. We could, and did, talk for hours.
Here is Gwyneth, now days away from 90, and though not well on the day,
came to a family party and is seen here, totally holding the interest of one of
her more difficult babies, my daughter, who thanks to Gwyneth overcame all her health
problems, and like her sister, didn’t have an anti-biotic until well into her
20’s.
And though I did not see much of Gwyneth after she shifted north to be
with her niece, I am going to miss having her in my world.
Hi Lois, please alter the date of Gwyneth's death to May 2 2017. We hope you can make it on Saturday. - Jeni and Greg
ReplyDeleteHi Greg - did that and so pleased I was able to be there on the 6th,
DeleteThank you, Lois, for sharing, not your loss, but our gain in remembering that those who contribute to enriching humanity usually do so in silence and without the need for spotlights. They are the force that counterbalances the self-destructive need shouting out from the caverns of our unconscious. May the Gwyneths prevail.
ReplyDelete