Dolly Wiari

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 4, Issue 14, 2 September 1986, Page 19

Dolly Wiari

Kahuaewa Marion (Dolly) Wiari, who died peacefully at her home in Seddon St, Raetihi, aged 69 years, on Saturday 16 August, will be sadly missed by her many friends and large family. Mrs Wiari was known to everyone as "Mum", so as well as an immediate family of 15 children, she had an extended family of "children" all around the world. Mrs Wiari (nee Ponga) was born at Parinui, 25km past Pipiriki on the Wanganui River, of the Ngati Ruru people. At 17 she married Rangihautu Ronald Buddy Wiari from Jerusalem, who was of the Ngati Raukawa people, and who died in 1969. She had a lot to do with the Jerusalem commune of James K Baxter some years ago and many of the young people who visited there kept in touch with her, even though they had returned to their home countries. The Wiaris moved around the area, farming in Jerusalem for some years, then moving to Pipiriki and finally to Raetihi. Mrs Wiari was veryactive in church organisations and marae groups. She was a kuia and supporter of Te Kohanga Reo in Wanganui East where she had the honour of naming the group Te Puawai o te Aroha Te Kohanga Reo, meaning "The blossoming of new love". She was a kuia at Whakairokotahi Kohanga Reo in Raetihi, and was always

surrounded by people in her favourite role as "Mum". Mrs Wiari will be fondly remembered by her nine surviving children, 32 granchildren and six great-grand-children. Her tangi was held at the Raetihi Marae on Wednesday 20 August, combined with that of her granddaughter, Sheryl Moana Rainham-Wiari, who was killed in a tragic motor accident on the Parapara Highway on Sunday while she was on her way to her grandmother's funeral. They were taken from Raetihi Marae by car to Pipiriki where three jet boats were waiting to take "Mum" and Sheryl up river to the Parinui family cemetery.

Thoughts from Veronica TeKoari, daughter of Dolly Wiari: Mum was put on the first jet boat with Father Gledhill from Wanganui, her sister Mrs Winiata, and members of the family. The boat was piloted by her nephew Dave Davey. Sheryl and her family travelled on the second jet boat, followed by the rest of the relatives on the third boat. It was the first time for many members of the family to ride in a jet boat and although it was a sad occasion we all enjoyed the moment, because we knew how much our Mum wanted to go home. It was an experience for all, as we travelled up the Wanganui River in a soft

shower and as we travelled by Mum's old community of Rangitautahi, it rained hard until we had passed. Further along the river the boats disappeared into some mist - our niece Tina thought it looked as though the boat our Mum was on had vanished into another world. The mist stayed with us until we arrived at Parinui where about 24 friends of the family were waiting. The ground was very wet and muddy but where our Mum and Sheryl were laid, it was bathed in brilliant sunshine. We knew Mum would be happy now in her final resting place, which is truly a beautiful spot.