Death after 1970 - cannot locate any record

[Aguella]

Hi

My grandfather's second cousin, Nellie Catanach, is the closest relative who I simply cannot "kill off" and I'd love to rectify this.

She was born in 1890 in Brighton, VIC (daughter of George Catanach and Maria Sydenham), and married Major Alan Cavendish Irwin in 1920. I don't believe they had any children. They moved to Double Bay, NSW in the late 1920s.

Alan died on 2 July 1970 and his death notice appeared in the SMH on 4 July. It confirms he was of 95 Wentworth Road, Vaucluse, and implies he was survived by Nellie (she is not listed as "deceased", whilst his brother is).

I cannot find a death in NSW or VIC BDM registers, and nothing appears on the Ryerson Index. Alan appears on Find a Grave, buried at Rookwood but no mention of Nellie.

I'm starting to wonder whether, despite being 80 when widowed, Nellie may have remarried and therefore her death appears under a different name.

The last definite trace of Nellie was in the 1963 electoral roll, at the Vaucluse address, together with Alan. I cannot find either of them in any subsequent electoral rolls.

I have nothing to indicate that Nellie was ever known by any other name. NSW death index goes up to 1995, so this seems an odd one to me!

Any assistance gratefully received.

[CassT]

FAG records

Alan Cavendish Irwin
Birth unknown   Death   2 Jul 1970
Monument    The New South Wales Garden of Remembrance

I think you will find that the Monument is a Remembrance and not where he is actually buried.


Cass

[jorose]

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/102185412?searchTerm=%22Nellie%20Irwin%22
There's a Mrs Nellie Irwin in a nursing home in the ACT in this article. Age is about right.

https://services.accesscanberra.act.gov.au/s/public-registers/generic-register?registerid=historic-death-index
A Nellie Irwin died in 1977 in the ACT. Unfortunately not enough info on the index to determine if this is your Nellie.

[Aguella]

FAG records

Alan Cavendish Irwin
Birth unknown   Death   2 Jul 1970
Monument    The New South Wales Garden of Remembrance

I think you will find that the Monument is a Remembrance and not where he is actually buried.


Cass

Thank you for that clarifaction, Cass!

[Aguella]

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/102185412?searchTerm=%22Nellie%20Irwin%22
There's a Mrs Nellie Irwin in a nursing home in the ACT in this article. Age is about right.

https://services.accesscanberra.act.gov.au/s/public-registers/generic-register?registerid=historic-death-index
A Nellie Irwin died in 1977 in the ACT. Unfortunately not enough info on the index to determine if this is your Nellie.

Thank you Jorose, that is extremely interesting. Nellie only hand a handful of nephews & nieces, and one of those, Sir Alan Cooley, lived in Canberra. Seems quite possible that after being widowed she didn't have any family in Sydney, so may have sought to move closer to relatives. Definitely worth investigating this further - thank you for a great lead!!

[CassT]

Hi Norwood park Cemetery Canberra has this record

Given Name   Surname   Died On   Cremated On   AREA   PORTION   ROWS
Nellie   Irwin   11-05-1977   13-05-1977   NO MEMORIAL

https://search.norwoodpark.com.au/ViewSearch.aspx


Cass

[sparrett]

She was born in 1890 in Brighton, VIC (daughter of George Catanach and Maria Sydenham), 

 

This reply offers no help in your quest.....but

George William Catanach was the founder of a very successful business in fine jewellery which survives to this day in High Street Armadale after being passed through many generations of Catanach’s

My engagement ring was bought there (not one of the big ones ) because my father insisted that we go to Bill Catanach ( William Alan, the grandson of your George William)  because Dad had been with him in New Guinea during the war in  for a time. They used to have a beer after the war at the local Club.

Sue

[Aguella]

Hi Norwood park Cemetery Canberra has this record

Given Name   Surname   Died On   Cremated On   AREA   PORTION   ROWS
Nellie   Irwin   11-05-1977   13-05-1977   NO MEMORIAL

https://search.norwoodpark.com.au/ViewSearch.aspx


Cass

Thank you. Hopefully I can tie this Nellie down as mine.

[Aguella]

She was born in 1890 in Brighton, VIC (daughter of George Catanach and Maria Sydenham), 

 

This reply offers no help in your quest.....but

George William Catanach was the founder of a very successful business in fine jewellery which survives to this day in High Street Armadale after being passed through many generations of Catanach’s

My engagement ring was bought there (not one of the big ones ) because my father insisted that we go to Bill Catanach ( William Alan, the grandson of your George William)  because Dad had been with him in New Guinea during the war in  for a time. They used to have a beer after the war at the local Club.

Sue

Hi Sue, it may not find me Nellie's death but it definitely adds some character and colour which is always the best part of family history in my opinion! Thank you for sharing - I really appreciate it. 

The Catanachs have a brilliant history section on their website documenting the 6 generations of ownership from George to the present day. I've been meaning to get in touch!