Obituary: Maree’s passing a sad los

By The Star Crew

Sadly, from this edition of The Star there will be no more Maree’s Musings as our much-loved columnist Maree Roy died in Dunedin Hospital on 18 January 2024. 

Following some elective surgery, Maree experienced a devastating medical event and died two weeks later.

Maree was a very loyal and consistent columnist for The Star. This is never more obvious when we learned she had broken her left shoulder in a November fall. Not to let The Star down Maree, with her left arm and shoulder strapped up, full of pain killers, wrote her last December column with her right hand only.

Maree had lived in Martinborough for over 40 years and four years ago moved to Dunedin to be nearer her daughter, Melyssa, a doctor, and grandchildren Jaiden and Emily.

She was born and schooled in Auckland and went to Otago University, graduating with a Bathelor of Science degree majoring in biochemistry.

Maree and husband Don came to live in Martinborough in the early seventies. Tragedy struck when Don was killed in a car accident just out of Martinborough which Maree and 3-month-old Melyssa survived; but both had long recoveries in Wellington hospital.

Maree continued to live in Martinborough and became very much a local. She taught science and biology at Kuranui College.

Throughout her life her love of music was forefront: she went to every local concert opportunity she could, she gave piano lessons to many local children. She learnt the Cello and was still teaching herself the Guitar.

Maree was a councilor of the last Martinborough Council before amalgamation. She did a term on the town Community Board as well.

Political throughout her life she supported, initially, the Labour Party and then the Green Party in recent years, often on their committees. Passionate about the environment, Maree was a gardener, enthusiastic about planting Daffodils in open spaces.

Maree was legendary for walking. Always with her Whippet and other owners’ dogs as well, picking up rubbish all around the town as they walked. On these strolls she also often was listening to politics on her transistor and had even been known to read while she walked. She received a Service Award for her improving the environment action in 2019.

Maree was a cat lover and a Siamese Cat breeder, even going on to be an ‘All Breeds’ national cat judge, judging in shows around New Zealand. She was brave to do this, but she loved it.

Above all writing was her greatest love: she wrote poetry, stories and for readers of The Star she spoiled us with clever, insightful articles. Subject matter varied but each article intrigued us all.

We will miss her contributions.

RIP Maree.