I belong to a family of seven cousins, all English born but with grandparents, William and Eliza Hilary, who raised their four children in County Down before removing to the south of England. My own mother was fifteen years old and had been attending Lurgan College. The children's young days were spent in close friendship with the family of four children who lived opposite. The Hilary family had a farm, Virtue Lodge, and we were taught from a young age of the abiding friendship between the two families and the close bond between the children of those families. Their family name was Carson. I believe that they, too, had a farm.
One of these children was beloved Mary Clarke, whose long life we are all privileged to honour, to have met her and her dear husband Tom, or to have corresponded with by letter in later years, taking up the baton from our parents. It was my great privilege to have such a correspondence with Mary for some time. My mother had told me so much about her and kept me up to date all through the years. We cousins were all well versed in the history of the friendship of the two families. To this day we treasure that connection.
From Mary I learnt the great lesson of counting our blessings, no matter what befalls us in life. She shone as a very beautiful person, full of love and faith. She was very much loved by the Hilary family of three generations. This message is from one Hilary family member, but the sentiments are from us all. We are so blessed that this contact with the Carson family was established all those years ago. Thank you dearest Mary.
In heavenly love abiding ...
Saturday 15 January 2022
Marny Barton, Brixworth, Northamptonshire