Elizabeth Cecily Whelan (Lily) b.1869
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Young Lily was one of the first day pupils at the new St. Patrick’s School South Dunedin, when it opened in 1878.
Lily became a bootmaker, as was her future husband. On 16 April 1900 she married a 28 year old Scotsman, from Glasgow, Alfred Grover (Alf), the son of Alfred James Grover and Mary Grover (nee Mary McGregor).
Lily and Alf lived in Dunedin, then Dunedin, then Christchurch. By 1931 Alf was again living in Auckland, seemingly on his own, and he died there aged 64 years, on 3 April 1936.
In 1935, when Lily was living in Hataitai, Wellington she was joined by her sister Poll. However five years later, Lily had developed Parkinson’s Disease and this caused her to give up her home and move to the Home of Compassion, Wellington. It was there that she passed away on 12 May 1945.
Alf and Lily Grover shared a trio of daughters:-
Margaret Grover (Rita), born 19 Jan 1901, became Margaret Kreeft.
Lillian Mary Grover, born 8 Dec 1902
May Grover, born 14 Dec 1908, became May Mongan.
Margaret Grover (Rita) was married at St Patrick’s Church, Kilbirnie, Wellington on 14 Mar 1935. Her groom was Edward Geoffrey Kreeft (Geoff), born about 1904. Geoff’s parents were Charles Vaughan Kreeft, a Civil Servant, and Annie Henrietta Lawson.
The couple were not blessed with children, and lived all their married life at 1 Kio Crescent, Hataitai. However they loved to care for their nieces and nephews. Geoff earned his living as a “Secretary”. After his retirement, he lived to the age of 82 years, passing away on 23 June 1987. Margaret Kreeft lived to the great age of 90, and she passed away on 16 Oct 1991.
Lillian Grover was born in Ponsonby, Auckland. Although she did not marry and have children Lillian enjoyed the company of nieces and nephews during the school holidays when they visited her in Hataitai.
Lillian Mary Grover died aged 67, on 15 January 1969.
May Grover married Michael Mongan at St. Patrick's Kilbirnie, on 24 July 1940. Michael was the son of James Mongan a farmer and Mary Mongan (nee Mary Byrne), and was born in Tuam, County Galway, Ireland around 1913. At the time of their wedding on 24 July 1940, 26 year old Michael had earned the trade of carpenter and joiner.
Sadly May died on 22 December 1953.
Ten years after the early death of his young wife Michael married again, to Joan Rogerson, and lived to age 84, passing away in June 1997.
Michael and May Mongan welcomed a son and a daughter:
Kerry Michael Mongan, born 27 Jan 1944, married Susan Melville.
Elizabeth Clare Mongan, born 5 Dec 1946, became Clare Sayers.