2/04/1923 - 17/04/2005

Robert Morrison

19/04/2005

Thank you to all those friends of Rosina who have called us here at the family home and passed on their condolences.

Sheryl Beaumont nee Calvert

20/04/2005

Wanted to say that my thoughts are with the whole family at this time and have passed on the news to my Parents (Angela and Russell) who are in Ireland at the moment, and to my brother Jason.

This is a wonderful idea Robert.

Aunty - you will truly be missed and I am so glad Matt & I spent time with you in late Feb.

Love Sheryl

Helen Hindmarsh

20/04/2005

I was very sorry to read in the paper of Rosina's death. I worked for a few years at Wellington Hospital in the Occupational Therapy Dept and met Rosina there. I did not see her for a few years but became very interested in Textile Art and Embroidery and met her again several times with her interest in Spinning and Weaving.

I remember her fondly with her charming smile and gentle nature.

My sympathies to you all at this sad time

Helen

Elizabeth Morrison

20/04/2005

Dearest Rosina

Your love, kindness, support and friendship have been so important to me. Such a beautiful, talented and hardworking woman, you have truly been - and will continue to be - an inspiration to all of us. You'll always be in my heart.

Elizabeth

Melissa Beals

20/04/2005

I am really sad to receive an email and not know anything of Rosina's illness and am sorry I didn't have a chance to say goodbye. I thought she was still in Canada!

In any event, Rosina is and always will be a heroine to me. I met her about 6 years ago at bowls. She was an amazing woman, with so many different talents and abilities in music, art and crafts. Soon after I met her, I decided that if I could enjoy half the things that Rosina did at her age, then I would be doing quite well. She really was a great role model.

One funny thing I want to share, is a few years ago we had just finished playing a game of bowls, and Rosina was telling me about the time her and George were on the stage in London. Then she proceeded to kick up her leg straight above her head to show me how she used to do the Can Can! Well, I went home and started stretching out... because if I had done that I would have pulled all of my hamstrings! It was amazing.

What was nice, was to stop by to see Rosina (and George when he was still alive) and always receive a warm welcome, a drink, some bickies and some fantastic conversation and sharing of each others experiences. They were always interested in your story while sharing theirs.

I will really miss Rosina, but she will never leave my memories or heart.

Linda (Lin) Ferguson

20/04/2005

For me my Aunty Rosina was always a fairy queen.

I never forgot her gliding on stage at the Wellington Opera House in a pantomine wearing a wonderful tulle dress, a glittering crown, gauzy wings and holding a wand. As a small freckle-faced girl with straight brown hair wearing her best red coat sitting high up in the Gods of the opera house - I felt so proud to be related to the star of the show.

It was just 8 weeks ago when I was in Wellington that Stella and I went to visit Rosina. She was like a tiny fragile porcelain figure tucked up in her feathery bed. She was so pleased to see us and gave me the sweetest smile asking how I was and what was I doing. I told her I needed to go buy a book for grand daughter Viktoria Stella's first birthday and post it off to Singapore. You must go to Kilbirnie it has the best children's book shop in New Zealand make sure you talk to the man there, Rosina said.

''...and come back and show me what you bought,'' she said and closed her eyes.

We found the perfect book and after a special talk with cousys Barbara, Robert and Mary we went back to the bedroom. Aunty Rosina's eyes sparkled as she turned the pages with bright pictures of a small green caterpillar who munched his way through lots of leaves and things before turning into a glittering, beautiful butterfly.

And that's how I remember my Aunty Rosina as a beautiful, butterfly.

Lyle Davies

20/04/2005

Rosina was a long-time and much loved member of the Wellington branch of the Waitaki Girls' High School Old Girls' Asssociation and will be sadly missed by us all.

We extend our sympathy and condolences to her family.

Patricia Tie

21/04/2005

Dear Rosina was a much admired and talented artist in so many fields, the one where I knew her was the Spinning and Weaving Guild in Wellington. Over a period of something like 20 years we have met with our various groups and enjoyed sharing of information/techniques in the world of wool particularly. Spinning, dyeing, knitting, weaving, felting, you name it, Rosina became skilled at it.

A group of us who had attended courses run by Maxine Lovegrove decided to continue the connection and have since 1991 met on a monthly basis in each other's homes. The original idea was to further the skills Maxine demonstrated. Inevitably the pattern of activity varied as time went by, but even if some of us didn't always take along a spinning wheel, we still hugely enjoyed the company and hospitality shared.

To Barbara, Robert and Philip I extend my most sincere sympathy in the loss of a lovely and loved mother. Rosina leaves a large gap in our "Maxine Group" as well as in the Wellington Guild and we all remember her with love and affection, and admiration for not only her talents and ladylike ways, but for her great courage through the last months of her life. She had such plans and hopes of overseas travel.

God speed dear lady.

Dennis Key

22/04/2005

I met Rosina following the start of a friendship with Robert and Mary that began when they moved into a house opposite mine in Hataitai nearly 30 years ago. Since that time I have got to know and befriend the extended Morrison family - Phil and Liz, Barbara and Tom, and of course George and Rosina.

Living close to Rosina, I would sometimes receive a call asking if I could help her with her computer, or perhaps chop some firewood, or some other little odd job. It was always my pleasure to help you where I could, Rosina. I will miss those little visits.

Rosina was a wonderful lady with many strengths and talents. In my recent visits to her I could see that her strong spirit stayed with her right to the end, in spite of her suffering. Never did I hear her bemoan her condition.

To Robert, Barbara and Phillip - I am sorry you have lost your mother. Her suffering has now come to an end. I know you will have many rich, wonderful memories of her.

Harry Midgley

23/04/2005

My wife, Caryl-Louise Robinson, and I have known Rosina and George Morrison well for the past 19 years, through our involvement in the Capital Performing Arts (CPA) organisation, of which I am President, having been introduced to it by George. Though George was the prime participant in CPA, both as a leading organiser and a performer, Rosina also took an active and dedicated part in it, because she shared George’s love and expertise for music and the arts.

I and the other leading members of CPA will always remember our meetings and gatherings in George and Rosina’s home in Moxham Avenue. All of us greatly admired Rosina’s talents in many artistic fields including music, weaving, design and her flair and love of flowers.

Caryl-Louise and I are glad that one of our enduring memories of Rosina will be perpetuated by a wonderful shawl which she wove and which we were delighted to have been able to purchase from her a few years ago. It is a warming and wonderful souvenir of a warm and wonderful woman.

Roger Steele

23/04/2005

I enjoyed so much meeting and working with Rosina as she brought George's book ‘This is My Story, This is My Song' to fruition, then arranged the book launch, assisted by her family. She was always gracious and fun, but there was a look of determination never far from her face to ensure the job got done. The book is a great tribute to George who lived and wrote it, to Rosina who made it happen so smoothly and well, and to their children who did so much work to put it together.

To visit Rosina was always inspiring - her house and garden so welcoming, colourful, well-organised and full of interest and creativity. She looked after George with such patience and forbearance .. it must have been a great marriage.

We had several happy conversations and meetings since the book launch. One was to sip wine and hear about the Canada trip, and how she was going to battle the cancer which crept so insidiously up on her; another was when she didn't want to watch the Lord of the Rings parade on her own, so I invited her to come and watch it with me and my staff.

As long as there are flowers in gardens, songs on lips and warmth in people's heart I will cherish knowing Rosina, because she embodied such beauty, inspiration, liveliness and love. Bless you, Rosina.

-- Roger Steele

Liz Bruce

23/04/2005

Dear Family,

It surely was my privilege to attend Rosina daily for these last few months of her varied and significant life, of which I discovered so much at her Celebration Service today.

Thank you so much for your warm welcome as I came and went.

You truly were an inspiration in your rostered care for a Mum who deserved it all. She gave, not expecting to receive, but received due to her giving, anyway!!

The dear lady loved her bath and so it was satisfying that I could enable that to happen, along with 'swim ring' and even little floating yellow duck, for as long as was possible.

I was reminded today of being sent off to get the Atlas from Robert in the office to check out the name of the Greek Island pictured in the frame above Rosina's bed, that I had admired!

The selling of the loom was another special event, evidence of Rosina's strength of character and willingness to face challenges, even from her bed.

Leon's phone calls from London, from the bus or the train, were so appreciated, and to me were quite amazing! Your tribute today, Leon, was special. Well done Mary for sharing it so beautifully. For the whole service today, thank you. I feel sure Rosina would have approved!

Memories will remain. You have all been thought of as I have driven past the back of the home during this week, in the course of work.

God bless you, each one.

Cash Lucille

26/04/2005

To Barbara, Phillip, Robert and other members of Morrison family,

Barbara and I went to Kilbirnie School together and over the years we lost touch when Barb left for her OE. I often met George or Rosina around the city and heard news of where Barb was and how she was, so we never really lost touch. Rosina rang me after I attended George's funeral and said she was off to see Barb, and we were able to renew our friendship via e-mail. It has been great to meet up with the Morrison family again and it is the end of an era to farewell Rosina, she was always so elegant and even in her last weeks looked so beautiful. I think she was so happy being cared for by her family.

Love and condolences,

Lucille

Fionn Peat

6/05/2005

I feel privileged to have enjoyed the friendship of both Rosina and dear George for the past twenty years when I first met them as a student of George's. I will greatly miss my visits to Moxham Ave and time spent with them both. Rosina was a beautiful and elegant woman, a gracious and welcoming hostess and a caring, interesting and interested friend.

Goodbye dear Rosina "And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest".

Fionn Peat

Elizabeth Johnstone

6/05/2005

My late husband, Charles, and I were fortunate to meet Rosina and George through my daughter, Fionn, a student of George. We would get together often in Wellington and after we moved to Raumati from Wellington, they would call in on their way to or from Waikanae and we always enjoyed their visits. We also enjoyed ours to Moxham Avenue.

My memory of Rosina is of her dancing at her 80th birthday. Her grace and vivacity were wonderful. She was such a talented woman and a dear friend.

My daughter and I attended Rosina's funeral and thought it a wonderful tribute to her. She would have been so proud of all her family on that day. You were all so special to her.

I feel privileged to have known and enjoyed Rosina's friendship and I shall miss her.

Veneta and Alan Hazard

20/10/2005

Robert Morrison

19/04/2006

It is now One Year since Mum passed away and the fondness and love are still here with me for Her, and yes it still hurts to have lost my best Friend.