She was regarded as an affectionate, loving and compassionate person who had lived a fruitful and fulfilling life.

Those were some of the glowing comments delivered by family members and friends that attended the celebration of life service for Maisie Winifred Marie Burrows Ible held at St James Church on last Saturday.

Maisie, as she was affectionately known to family and close friends, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, May 4 at the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.

Maisie, who was born on Friday, January 6, 1928, was the second child of the late Dennis and Sarah Ann Burrows. She grew up with her three siblings at the former homestead located at Woodlawn Road, Sandys parish, and attended the Southampton Glebe School.

At the tender age of 23, Maisie married Herbert “Chips” Ible on Wednesday, September 19, 1951.

It was a union of marriage which lasted for 47 years until the untimely death of Mr Ible in 1998.

Together, Maisie and Herbert had three sons, namely Wendell, Nelson and Monte Ible, a well-known fisherman and, one daughter Sorina, who was instrumental in caring for her mother for a period of eight years prior to her death while battling dementia.

Maisie was a long-term resident of Sandys Parish and in the early years of her marriage lived on Sound View Road and, subsequently resided on East Shore Road, directly across the street from the old Sugar Cane Hotel, where she raised her family along with her numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren, all of whom were frequent visitors.

Maisie was not only a dedicated wife and mother but was somewhat of a novelty and trailblazer in her day, when she became one of Bermuda’s first female taxi drivers in the early 1950s.

With a very soft-spoken voice, she exhibited a calm, professional, and placid personality in her conduct and dealings with members of the general public. Not very much that would actually ruffle her feathers, and, she was proud to tell anyone that she was a safe driver and that she had never in her lifetime committed a traffic offence. There were a host of other jobs that Maisie held during her working career. Her first course of employment was with the late Dr Braxton Cann. She also worked for the company Merck Sharpe and Dohme that was located in the old Dock Yard facility in Ireland Island.

Maisie cultivated the reputation as an excellent short-order cook while working at the former Hitching Post Restaurant located near Somerset Bridge, a facility that was known island-wide for it sumptuous hamburgers and milkshakes.

Maisie was a fervent cricket fan and an ardent supporter of Somerset in the Cup Match Classic.

She attended Cup Match every year and was usually outfitted in her tailor-made attire that was always adorned with a wide brim hat.

In her great passion and love of the game, she always held in her possession a bell which she would ring whenever a member of her team captured either four or six runs and would also ring the bell when an opposing member of the St George’s team was bowled out.

Maisie’s other leisure and family activities included cooking, knitting and spending time with her numerous family members with whom she cultivated over a period of 88 years very long and lasting relationships, including a fond relationship she held with her eldest daughter Bette.

She also enjoyed travelling to both Boston and New York to visit her brother and sister. Maisie was a very resourceful person who loved unconditionally.