Obituaries Australia

It is a rare thing to see a man and his wife pass away to the great majority on the same day from natural causes. Though not exactly on the same day, it was scarcely twenty four hours that separated the passing into that deep vale of eternal shadows of Mr and Mrs James Smallwood, of Forrester. This good old couple had lived all their married life at Forrester, near the Public School, and were aged, respectively, 79 and 78. A few months before their death, when the old couple became very feeble and were unable to do for themselves, they went to live with their son Joseph, a few miles away, and there they spent the last of their days. They were quiet and peaceful residents of that locality, never interfered in other people's business, but were the first to lend any assistance when required. Everyone who knew this old couple could not do other than speak in the highest terms of admiration of the good and charitable life they lived. They always believed in the motto that "poverty was no disgrace," and though they were fairly comfortable, they would not tolerate anything that savored of dishonesty. By their death the people of Forrester lose two of their pioneers — honest, good-living, charitable and straightforward in all their dealings. Would that we could speak of all our neighbours in the same way. Mrs. Smallwood's maiden name was Sarah Hobbs. She died on Sunday, January 21, and was buried in the R. C. cemetery, Windsor, on Monday, Rev. Father McDonnell officiating. Her husband died on the previous day and was buried in the C. of E. cemetery, Pitt Town. A family of four was the issue of the marriage, viz., Kate (Mrs Pye, formerly of Richmond), Esther (Windsor), Frances (Ryde), and Joseph (Forrester).