by Dr. Wismore B. Butcher
on November 09, 2002
The Mason family of the historic fishing village of Bayfield, St Philip is once again thrown into mourning, for time like an ever-flowing stream has taken one of its senior daughters away. Today we are assembled here in this hallowed place to bid a final farewell to a dear old lady, Miss Irene Venestine Mason, who ended her journey on this earth on Friday, November 01, 2002. Incidentally, this is the same date on which her brother, Robert was buried in this churchyard in 1997. As we reflect on the life and times of this veteran of the large Mason family, we must gve God all the honour and praise for granting her the privilege to toil on this earth for ninety years and eight months. Longevity is a Mason family tradition for very few of us fail to reach seventy years of life. Indeed, the matriarch of this remarkable and close-knit family, Theodora 'Ma' Mason, died in 1985 at the age of one hundred and one years, and her two sisters easily passed the ninety-year mark. Some may be moved to say that Ma Mason bequeathed longevity to her offspring.
Irene Mason or Auntie Irene, as she was affectionately referred to by many members of the extended family, was born on March 3, 1912 to Theodora and Thomas Mason. She was the second child of this union which produced ten children, six females and four males. Four members of this group pre-deceased her. They are Ulric who died in 1985 at age 72; Arthur or Learie in February,1997 at age 88; Robert, as
was stated earlier, in November,1997 at age 74; and Lillian, the oldest of the siblings, died in October,1999 at age 92. So as you can see very clearly, Auntie Irene at age ninety has carried on the Mason family tradition. It should also be noted here that another sibling, Alfred, the product of Theodora and another relationship, died tragically in the mid nineteen-fifties.
It therefore means that five of the eleven children now remain. They are Vadna and Joseph who could be considered the matriarch and patriarch of this loving family, along with Louise who has journeyed from New York to be here, Miriam who has a strong and determined spirit, and my dear mother, Edith whose strong and abiding faith in God keeps her going. All of them are over seventy-five not-out and are batting well on their way to the century mark. It is my firm belief that at least one of them will reach that milestone when we will celebrate with the Governor-General or President of Barbados, a well deserved innings and victory. MORE