The family of the “remarkable” Joan Wilson, the highly-respected teacher and musician who lost her daughter, Marie, as a result of the Enniskillen Bomb in 1987, has paid tribute to an inspiring and much-loved mother, wife, grandmother and great-grandmother following her death.

Joan, late of Cooper Crescent, Enniskillen, passed away peacefully on Friday, March 31, at the South West Acute Hospital, Enniskillen at the age of 91 following an illness.

Born on April 9, 1931, Joan was the only child of Thomas and Margaret Watson. “She had a happy childhood as an only child,” said her daughter, Julie Anne.

Joan was educated at Ballyreagh Public Elementary School from 1936 to 1943, and continued her education at Enniskillen Collegiate Grammar School, from 1943 to 1949.

Following the Collegiate, Joan went on to train as a teacher at Stranmillis College in Belfast.

From a young age, Joan developed a strong Christian faith which was very prominent throughout her life.

As a child she attended Sunday School at Pubble Methodist Church, and during her time at the Collegiate, Scripture Union played a very large part in her young life.

Music was a life-long passion of Joan’s, which began at the age of seven when her father presented her with a half-size violin.

Music

She attended violin lessons in Enniskillen with the music teacher Marie Trimble, mother of the composer and pianist Joan Trimble.

“She taught her the violin until she was 11 years old and introduced her to beautiful violin music,” said Julie Anne.

Joan was talented on the piano too, and loved playing the music of Handel, Bach, Schubert and Beethoven.

Whilst at college in Belfast, Joan was a member of three orchestras as a violinist.

In 1953, Joan passed her finals at Stranmillis and was appointed a post at Enniskillen Model School, returning to her Fermanagh home.

A year later, she met her husband, Gordon, at an event in Enniskillen Townhall in 1954. They later married at Pubble Methodist Church in 1955, and lived at High Street, Enniskillen, before moving to Cooper Crescent in 1960.

Joan and Gordon’s first child, Peter, was born in 1956, and in 1958, their second little boy, Richard passed away shortly after birth.

Their first daughter, Julie Anne, was born in 1960, and 1967 brought the birth of their second daughter Marie.

Joan took a break in her career then to raise her children and later returned to teaching, taking up a post at the Collegiate Prep.

In the early 1970s, Joan began teaching violin as a peripatetic teacher with the Western Education and Library Board.

“She loved this specialist string teaching and conducting her Saturday morning orchestra and tutoring in the Western Counties Youth Orchestra in Omagh on a Friday night.

“She was always busy accompanying choirs for the Collegiate School and playing for their musicals,” explained Julie Anne, going on to note that Joan was also church organist and choir mistress at Darling Street Methodist Church in Enniskillen for 30 years.

Marie

In 1987, Joan’s life changed forever. Marie, her youngest daughter, was killed in the Enniskillen Bomb, aged 20, and Gordon was injured.

“Shock, loss, sorrow and unbearable grief followed for weeks, months, years,” said Julie Anne, noting that anniversaries were particularly painful.

“The prayers and support of people through letters, messages from people all over the world carried us through.”

Her son Peter’s death in a car accident in 1994 was another real shock for Joan.

“Gordon died six months after Peter in the summer of 1995, from a stroke, aged 67. Again, God’s strength brought Joan through,” Julie Anne noted.

Independent

Joan managed to live independently in Cooper Crescent right up to the age of 91.

She enjoyed watching her grandchildren; Peter and Ingrid’s children Eloise and Judith, and Julie Anne and John’s children Scott, Timothy and Katie, growing up.

She was further blessed with great-grandchildren; Eloise’s children, Florence, Charlotte and Edward Stockdale, and Judith’s children, Wilson, Jessica and Julia Grey, who brought her great joy.

“All these children had a very special place in her heart,” said Julie Anne, adding that Joan’s eldest grandchildren, Eloise and Judith, both studied music at university: “This pleased Joan no end.

“Eloise played the violin with her granny often, and Joan was so proud of her and Judith. Their love and care towards their granny has been constant and wonderful.”

John and Julie Anne’s children, Scott, Timothy and Katie, all adored weekends at Cooper Crescent – a house that was always full of warmth and memories.

Joan’s funeral arrangements were by Keith Elliott of W. T. Morrison Funeral Directors. A Service of Thanksgiving for her life was held at Darling Street Methodist Church on Sunday, April 2, where members of her family contributed.

Scripture readings were read by her eldest great-grandchild, Wilson Grey, and grandson, Scott Hassard. Alf McCreary, as a life-long friend, delivered the eulogy.

Her son-in-law John Hassard read a poem that Joan had specifically chosen, and a tribute was led by her granddaughter, Katie Hassard.

“She has always been an inspiration with her musical talent, love of teaching, godliness, sharp mind, kindness and generosity,” said Katie in her tribute: “We will miss her, but we know that she is with Jesus.”