Rosina Cairns Stark – My Family …

Rosina Smith nee Stark, made it to 100 years old.

Rosina Cairns Stark was born the ninth child to James and Rosina Stark 18^th March 1886 at Mataura.

It appears that she was Christened “Rosina Cairns” in recognition of the kindness bestowed upon her mother, Rosina, (nee Steel) in her teenage years by Thomas Leggate and his wife Rosina nee Cairns and their children. It appears unlikely that the Leggate’s were related to the Steel’s. Further research may reverse this.

Rosina attended school at Mataura before moving to the Croydon Siding School 26^th July 1897 and then to Gore school when her parents moved into 6 Duke St., Gore.

Rosina was married to Andrew Smith, related to H and J Smith of Invercargill, at Gisborne September 1909, where they lived until about 1940. Most of her married life was in Auckland, for a time at New Lynn and since about 1950 in a house built by Andrew himself at Glen Eden.

Rosina’s husband predeceased her 26^th December 1951 and is buried at Waikumete Cemetery, Waitakere, Auckland. Shortly afterwards was joined by her brother Thomas who was at that time retired and widowed. Rosina kept very active and played bowls, both outdoor and indoor, until the mid 1970’s and continued with the indoor bowls until 1980.

Her daughter Renee and her husband Alex moved into her house to care for her for some time until she had to go into a private hospital in Mt Albert, Auckland.

Rosina, sitting in centre at her 80th birthday. Brother Tommy is standing to our left of her.

Rosina died 20^th August 1986 in her 101st year. She was cremated at Waikumete Crematorium and the ashes were returned to the family. Renee said that her mother’s ashes were spread over a rose garden at Glen Eden, Auckland

Andrew is buried in Waikumete Cemetery in Auckland

Children of Rosina Smith nee Stark

Name	Born	Place	Died	Place
Cecil George Stark	1907	Dunedin
Ernest Carlton	1910	Dunedin	1994	Whanganui
Norman Stuart	1912	Gisborne	1970	Levin
Renee Phyllis	1914	Gisborne	2013	Whanganui
Lawrence Wilfred	1916	Gisborne	1997	Palmerston North
Milton Chester	1919		2008	Whangarei

Cecil George Stark was registered without a father on the birth certificate, but I suspect he was put up for adoption as there are no records of his name at all. There is a Cecil George LAURIE that was born 4 days different to this Cecil, and there is no birth record for him. Perhaps?