It was especially poignant that the death of Mary Williams should have coincided with the close of the gardening year. She was synonymous with flowers and will long be remembered for her splendid arrangements in the National Gallery of Ireland, which she provided in a voluntary capacity.
Devoted to her husband and children, she also had strong philanthropic instincts.
Born in Ballina, Co Mayo, she was the eldest child of Charles E. Gavin and Mary (nee Hunt). One of her sisters, Margaret Downes, was to become the distinguished chartered accountant and business woman. Mary Williams began her education in Ballina where early achievements included a string of successes in elocution competitions at the Sligo Feis Ceoil. This prompted a life-long interest in poetry and drama.
She went on to Loreto Abbey, in Rathfarnham, and studied law at University College, Dublin.
She then studied at King's Inns but left to work as a legal assistant.
In 1957, she married Michael Williams, whose family owned the Tullamore Dew distillery.
They lived in Durrow Abbey, in Tullamore, for nearly 30 years, a home with strong historical associations.
It was here in the ninth century that St Colmcille founded his abbey and the Book of Durrow was written.
The Williams family reared their six children in Tullamore and sold Durrow Abbey in 1991, moving to Ballsbridge, in Dublin.
Mary Williams had a strong artistic temperament. She attended several arts courses and specialised in Dutch Old Masters.
She began work as a volunteer in the National Gallery, principally in the archive department. She also assisted in the development of the information services and in programmes introducing children to art.
She thought that the gallery needed flowers and brought in some of her own thus becoming involved with arranging flowers for receptions and major events, which she was also asked to do for the Municipal Gallery of Modern Art.
Later she became a patron of the National Gallery of Ireland.
She also served with honour on the board of Headfort School.
The family had a home near Clifden in Co Galway, and her instinct for progress led her to join the local development board promoting an airport for the area.
She had a strong sense of style with a penchant for hats and gloves.
She also had a gift for repartee and a zest for life. She is survived by her husband Michael and by six children Simon, Sandra, David, Patrick, Jane and Marcus.
Mary Williams: born 1930; died November, 1999