| Notes |
- When her father, William Hodges Uren died in February, 1918, there weresome seven children living, ranging in age from about 3 to16years. Ivywas then some 5 years and 2 months old. The two older boys John andKenneth had to leave school to start work. It was difficult financialyears for the widow with such young children. Ivy had the opportunityto attend the excellent Worcester Girls Seminary, at least for a numberof years. She worked as a clerk for De Vos and Krone, merchants in thesoft and dried fruit industry, in Worcester untill her marriage in March1937. Like her father (who played rugby scrumhalf for Western Province)and her brother Claude(who was South African champion in certainathletic walk events around the mid 1930's) she was a good sports women:she played tournament hockey for Worcester. Later in life she was akeen bowls player. As a member of the South African Police force SWJGreeff was transfered to Randfontein, in the Transvaal. When herhusband, SWJ Greeff, my dad, was interned for a number of years there wasno income and she had to stay with friends and family travelling from theRand to Kimberley, de Aar & suburban Capetown. I was still very youngand a very strong bond existed between me and my mother that lasted alife time. After world war 2, my parents and I stayed in Robertson,Cape for about 2 years before our family settled at Hennenman in theOrange Free State where my parents stayed in the same house for well over30 years untill his death in December, 1984. When my dad became mayorof Hennenman in 1969, Ivy had a rich social life as mayoress. Theytravelled fairly extensively overseas visiting most European countries,England, the Far East, Israel and Mexico. She came to Pretoria shortlyafter her husbands death. My wife and I took care of her for the last17 years. She stayed with me and my wife for a few years at oursmallholding, Plot 163, Derdepoort, Pretoria. However, she missed thecompany and activities of her age group and elected to retire to an oldage home. There they had a very lively activities programme such asvisits by musicians, visits to theatre, concerts and shops etc. Sheenjoyed all of that enormously, nearly to the end. My wife and I hardlyever skipped a Sunday to fetch her to our home for lunch and the day.The few Sundays since her death has been very empty for us. Throughouther life she enjoyed very good health. She used no chronic medicationapart from a multivitamin and calcium tablet, and a glas of old brownsherry on a Sunday! In September 2004 she had a major setback when shedeveloped gangrene in her left foot due to weak circulation and abruise. This led to an amputation of the limb below the knee and awheelchair. Because of her high age(91) general anaesthesia could notbe applied so it was all done under epidural, which means she was awareof everything happening to her during the opperation. She was verybrave and recovered to have another four years of good life and laughs.Ivy was by far the longest living Uren of her generation. Her smiles,her humour, her warmth and deerness towards people, her inner strengthand prayers for us will always be with us, who knew her. I am sograteful for the honour to have been granted the custody of her.
Christened:
- By Rev. WduP G Schierhout
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1912 - 2006 (94 years)
