Rosalind Porteous (buried 1926)

Worthing Herald 31 July 1926 "Beautiful Life Cut Short" Tribute to the late Miss Betty Porteous. "Safely, safely gathered in, far from sorrow far from sin. God has saved from weary strife, in it's dawn this fresh young life" These words were sung by the boys' choir of Heene church at the funeral service for Miss Rosalind Ursula Betty Porteous younger daughter of the late Dr H L Porteous of Chalford Gloucester and Mrs Porteous of Heene Road Worthing on Saturday afternoon. Miss Porteous died on the previous Wednesday at the age of 20 after an operation. All the time the sorrowful congregation found it hard to believe the hymn was sung for one who had been in their midst full of youth and life and happiness until a few days before, when she was struck down by an illness, the awful termination of which no one suspected. It was unbelievable that the solemn hymns, the black robed congregation, the requiem music and flowers were for Betty Porteous the brightest most fragrant flower shedding her sweetness on all around. The clergyman the Rev. G Sparrow of St Matthews in his feeling manner lifted the thoughts of the congregation from the sense of earthly loss and sorrow, to the knowledge of spiritual gain. She who they mourned was not dead but living in a brighter sphere. "For the life so young and fair hath now passed from earthly care" He sent out the comforting thought of her safety and her shelter and all she had been spared in being gathered in her youth and freshness into the fold of love and spiritual glory. Hard as it was to find consoling words in the face of a loss so sudden and tragic, the Preacher in his tender address sought, and not in vain to follow the wisdom of the Divine Will which had left the hopes and prayers of the distress watchers unanswered, as they waited in the darkened chamber for some straw of hope to cling to, that their dear one would be spared to them. "God Himself the soul will keep, giving his beloved sleep" He bid them go forth but not without hope and strong in the faith that "it is well with the child" The short address full of human sympathy and spiritual light and understanding made it perhaps easier for the dear ones of Betty Porteous to kneel and sing the closing hymn which was based upon the very bedrock of faith. The family mourners and many friends who had known Mrs Porteous's bright young daughter and loved her dearly then made their short way to the Heene churchyard where the last sad earthly rite was performed, and the flowers symbolic of the young life made a carpet of colour over the resting place of "our darling Betty". So she was described by her sorrowing family in their mourning tributes, and so she will live in the hearts of all who knew and loved her. Mr A Boyes F.R.C.O. included amongst his requiem music Mendelssohn's "O Rest in the Lord" and one of the same composer's "Song Without Words". He also played portions of Chopin's "Funeral March" which tells in such wonderful language the true story of death and resurrection. The "Nunc Dimittis" was sung as the flower-laden casket was brought down the aisle. The funeral arrangements were carried out by Messrs Patching.