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Gwendoline Beatrice WILLIAMS
1906-1956
Gwendoline was born on 29 November 1906 to Herbert Benjamin WILLIAMS and Mary Jane nee MILLRAY, she was the 8th and last child born to Mary Jane and Herbert although Mary Jane had been married previously to James LEWIS and had two daughters by him before he died in 1886.
Gwendoline went to various schools around the Canterbury area – Phillipstown in Central Christchurch, Burwood in northeast Christchurch. Cust in North Canterbury and Little River in southeast/ peninsula area. (The little River School register does not start their records until late 1913, so we cannot say when or for how long she was there.)
It is believed that Mary Jane worked as a housekeeper for various people and that the two youngest children Gwen and Hayton traveled with her.
Gwen died on 08 May 1856 in Christchurch, she is buried at Linwood Cemetery with Stan.
Memories of Gwen by her son Tony .
Gwendoline (Gwen) Malaquin was a wonderful mum, put her kids ahead of everything.
Shopped at second hand dealers for clothes for us as well as herself. Took on dressmaking to make ends meet. Dad had became ill with lung infections & after a short time was sent to the sanatorium & Mum used to cycle from Lincoln to Cashmere to visit him.
She would do sewing for people, until small hours, including wedding outfits to have enough money just to survive. We lived a lot on mutton forequarters being the cheapest we could buy, from memory would cost one shilling and six pence (15c), & sausages 3 pence per pound (500grms) = 2c.
Mum also took us to school on a bike seat on the back of her bicycle, riding 5miles (8ks) each way.
With all the extra things she had to do,she still had time to cuddle us when things went wrong and showed us so much love.
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