Dorothy Gerard O'Hare

  General Notes:

In loving memory of Dorothy Gerard Ogilvy (nee O'Hare)October 25, 1922 to December 24, 2005 DOROTHY was born in Armidale, the third of four daughters to Cyril and Mary O'Hare (nee Barnes) of Hollyridge, Delegate. She was born in Armidale, as it was the custom in those days for the expectant mother to go to her mother for the birth of her children. Dorothy and her three sisters, Ruth, Sheila and Joan (deceased - better known as Billie) grew up at Hollyridge, receiving their education via correspondence taught by their mother. She then went on to complete her education at Loreto Convent, Kirribilli, Sydney. After leaving Loreto she worked as a nursing assistant at Delegate Hospital until the outbreak of the Second World War. Dorothy and her sister Sheila were then sent to Sydney to work at Aaron's Hotel. During this period of her life she developed a great love of dancing and the theatre, which continued throughout her life. In August of 1947 Dorothy married John Ogilvy of Airlie Park, Delegate, at St Benedict's Church on Broadway in Sydney. Together they lived very happily on Airlie Park where they had three daughters - Carol, Christine and Kerry (the 'Ogilvy Girls' as they were commonly referred to). They in turn presented her with six grandchildren, who called her ‘Nanno' - Lindsay (and Julie) Garnock, Bryce (and Sarah) Garnock, Kristi and Peter Payten (with Josie), Ross and Becky Page and two great grandchildren from Bryce and Sarah - Callum and Connor. Family meant a great deal to Dorothy and the Sunday roast after Mass was an enjoyable tradition for her family and friends to share time and stories together, and often a hand of cards. Her commitment to her family is legendary, forever supportive and offering encouragement no mater what her girls were attempting to do - except maybe some of the adventurous activities they attempted on their horses. She always made the cakes for everyone's birthdays and continued to do this for the grandchildren. Her Christmas pudding and hard sauce were firm favourites for Christmas and this year was the first time she had not made the pudding. Dorothy's generous nature is well known throughout the district because of her voluntary work and dedication to local charities, in particular the Delegate Red Cross, which she joined at the age of 17. She continued to support St Vincent de Paul, Meals on Wheels, Legacy and the View Club, until a few months before her final illness, making cakes and slices and sandwiches whenever there was a function, street stall or fund raising event. After John's death in 1981, Dorothy continued to manage Airlie Park until after the 1985 fires when she decided to move to Bombala to be closer to Carol and Murray and Kerry and their families. The friendship and acceptance she found in Bombala enriched her life enormously, especially her friends at St Mary's Catholic Church, the Cursillo group, bowls and the card ladies. Her love of travelling developed after she and John went on their first overseas trip, which was a boat cruise around the South Pacific. She made several trips to visit Chris, Martin, Ross and Beck, mainly in London but also Vanuatu, places where few or no vaccinations were required. During her retirement in Bombala, Dorothy travelled extensively throughout Australia and attended many concerts, ballets and live shows, mainly in Canberra and Sydney (and on occasion in Melbourne). If there was a trip being organised then Dorothy loved to be included. Dorothy's faith played an enormous role in her life. Come rain, hail or snow she religiously attended Mass every weekend, even though she hated driving on wet roads. Remembering Dorothy always brings us back to her faith, her love and friendship, her lifestyle and her acceptance of all. We were blessed by Dorothy Ogilvy's life and faith, and she will be sadly missed by her family, friends and acquaintances. She lived her life to the full and may she now rest in peace.

Dorothy married John Archie Leslie Ogilvy in 1947 in Sydney, NSW Australia. (John Archie Leslie Ogilvy was born about 1918 and died on 2 Aug 1981 in Merimbula, NSW Australia.)