Raised in the working-class parish of Shettleston in Glasgow in the ‘Hungry Thirties’, Maura White had to be tough.
At an early age she fell seriously ill and had to learn to walk and feed herself over again.
Later, after leaving school, Maura discovered she had hearing difficulties and would require a hearing aid. Back then, these devices were huge, with two large batteries carried in a shoulder bag.
As a result, Maura would stop socialising. She started working in industry and showed tremendous strength on the assembly lines.
However, her parents saved and bought her the latest model of hearing aid and soon she was back out and about and back at Irish dancing.
Maura would not only go on to win countless competitions but also to teach Irish dancing.
She went to Portstewart often on holiday and it was there that she met the love of her life, Henry Babington.
Henry proposed within days of meeting. They married soon afterwards in Shettleston and within five years they had Finula, Marcus and Jacqueline.
Their first house was in Portstewart, but they would move to to Belfast in 1966, setting up home at 213 Cavehill Road.
Maura worked in Courtauld’s in Carrickfergus before moving to her last job in the City Hospital as a domestic auxiliary.
She and Henry purchased a boat, “The Reiff”, in the early 1970s and the family spent many a happy day on it.
In fact, they were all rescued from it one time on their way to Scotland by Canadian Airforce helicopters, when a dodgy engine and bad weather hampered the plan.
As their children raised their own families, Maura and Henry continued to enjoy a busy life of work and time on the boat.
However, life changed forever when Henry was murdered in October 1989.
Shot dead by the IRA at Chichester Park North as he walked to work, the killing was described as a case of mistaken identity.
Maura left her home and moved to Islandmagee and Glengormley before finally settling beside Finuala in Ballygally.
She learned to drive to maintain her independence, and was often spotted flying up the Larne carriageway heading to the wool shop for supplies – she loved knitting.
She also became an expert at DIY, including wallpapering and tiling. Nothing beat her.
Maura had a great sense of humour and even with her hearing difficulties, she was always in the middle of things.
She was the first person in Northern Ireland to have the cochlear ear implant, which helped her immensely in later years, particularly when her seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren came along.
She was proud of each and every one of them and loved holidaying with them at home and abroad.
Maura spent many years supporting the WAVE Trauma Centre and others who had been through similar tragedy as herself.
She was a character and was loved by everyone who had the pleasure of meeting her. She has left an indelible mark on the organisation.
Maura, who died on August 12, was much loved and in turn gave love freely.
She asked her family to make sure she was buried in her wedding dress. Her love and sense of loss for Henry never diminished.
The family will cherish the memories. She will always be in their hearts.
** The Irish News publishes a selection of readers’ obituaries each Saturday. Families or friends are invited to send in accounts of anyone they feel has made a contribution to their community or simply led an interesting or notable life. Call Aeneas Bonner on 028 9040 8360 or email a.bonner@irishnews.com.
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