PPA Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume LX, Issue 6331, 31 August 1937
OBITUARY
MRS J. J. WALKER
There passed away at midnight last Thursday, a link with the early history of New Zealand in Mrs J. J. Walker, Jolie street, Akaroa. Mrs Walker had been in bad health for seme time and her death was not unexpected. Her father, M. Le Monnier, came from St. Pierre Eglise close to Cherbourg, France, in 1841, eight months after the arrival of the Nanto Bordelaise expedition. lie went to Takamatua and took up land there, felling the bush. When the gold rush to the Bendigo diggings took place, he sold out and went to Australia where he stayed some years. He married an Irish lady, Miss Mary Ann Foody in Melbourne. They returned to New Zealand in 1861, coming to Dunedin and later on to Akaroa.
Mrs Walker was then three years old and her father carried her over the old Pigeon Bay road pick-a-back, going to Pavitt's Mill in Robinson's Bay where he worked for some time. The family was in Takamatua again for a short time and later took up the section in Grehan Valley where Mr A. F. Shadbolt now lives. Mrs Walker used to say that her mother felt the privations of life in New Zealand after Australia. The shortage of meat was particularly noticeable.
In 1880 she married Mr John James Walker of Akaroa who predeceased her some years ago. There were eight sons and one daughter of the marriage. Mr Ralph Walker died in the Great vYar in Egypt and Messrs Albert (Akaroa) and John James (Te Kiuti) also died some years ago. Mrs Walker is survived by her daughter, Miss Bonneta Leonore, Walker and five sons, Messrs Lawrence (Te Kuiti), Clement (Akai ?oa), Cyril (Akaroa) Ivan and Oliver (Christchurch). Her only sister, Mrs Leonore Fleet lives in Chertsey (Ashburton).
There are thirteen grandchildren and three great grand children. The funeral which was a private one, was held yesterday morning. Mrs Walker lived practically all her life in Akaroa and took a keen interest in all local matters. She was
a very generous supporter of St. Patrick's Church. Her memory was a very keen one and she could tell many interesting stories of the old Peninsula days. Susan Bonnette Lemonnier immigrated to Melbourne to Dunedin, NZ, in 1861.
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