Obituary

Chronicle (Levin), 6 May 1949, Page 2

Obituary

MRS. M. F. GABY, M.B.E. • The death has occurred at her residence at Otaki, after a long illness, of Mrs. Mary Fanny Gaby, M.B.E., aged 75. When she retired in 1941 she had. completed 28 years of public service. Reniarkabie tributes were pald.her at a farewell gathering in Wellington at that time. Mrs. Gaby was particularly interested in social welfare work. 6he was born and educated in Wellington and in 1913 she joined the Wellington South nursing division of the St. John Ambulance Brigade, being appointed la'dy divisional superintendent in 1923, and lady corps superintendent in 1929. In recognition of her services she was appointed a serving sister of the Order of St. John in 1927 and in 1936 she was made an officer of the Venerable Order of St. John. During the Great War, • the 1918 influenza epidemic, and the 1931 earthquake, Mrs. Gaby was prominent in offering first aid and in assisting in nursing generally. She was a member of a number of .organisalions for social advancement. Mrs. Gaby r'eceived the M.B.E. in the 1939 Ne\y Year Honours list. ' ' . ' The funeral service was held in the St. Mark's Church, Wellington, Canon H. E. K. Fry officiating. Mrs. Gaby's long life of useful service tothe community was remarked upon by Canon Fry in his address. She had taken a real and practical in-' terest in the affairs of the parish of St. Mark's and was particularly concerned in the welfare of the church school, being at that time an honorary member of the teaching staff. A gifted woman, she had used her .talents in the service of her fellows. After mentioning the example and inspiration she had been during the 1918 epidemic and the Napier earthquake, Canon Fry remarked that it was not given to many to attain the rank Mrs. Gaby had held as an officer of the Venerable and Ancient Order of St. John of JerusaTem,' adding that she had also had the honour of being decorated by the ,King for her services. However, as he iooked back over the years, his Chief recollection of Mrs. Gaby, was the inspiration she had been' and the help that she had given, not only' to the patients, but also to the nursing staff, when the Wellington Emergency Hospital had been established at Otaki Beach.