A previous Mary Potter Hospice volunteer and a big lover of animals has left a generous gift in her Will to Mary Potter Hospice.
Fay Wilson left gifts to the organisations that she respected and wanted to support – including the SPCA, the Westpac Rescue Helicopter and Mary Potter Hospice.
Her friend and executor of her Will, Vicki, said that Fay had a big heart and a particular love of animals, particularly her two very elderly cats.
“She treated them like her children. She was a very quiet person. She didn’t go ‘look at me look at me’. She was just quietly there to help if you needed help advice,” Says Vicki.
“Fay supported organisations that she felt did a lot of good work, and the Hospice was one of them. She saw the good work that was being done when she was a volunteer and thought that they could do with some money to help them continue that work.”
Fay also made specific references in her Will of the location of the charities she wanted to support, for example Levin SPCA and Manawatu Rescue Helicopter.
“She didn’t want the money to be swallowed up in the national organisations, she wanted her gift to support local arms of the charities.”
Vicki said that Fay was a highly intelligent woman who loved puzzles and crafts. She worked all her life, most recently as the Levin Electoral Officer.
Being an executor was a huge job, said Vicki. It was a role that Vicki has agreed to do when Fay asked her. “She knew that I would make sure that her wishes were done right and trusted me to do the job properly.”
“But if anyone is thinking of being an executor, it’s a huge amount of work. There are a lot of decisions to make, especially if a house needs to be sorted and sold.”
Vicki said there were tough decisions to make about the elderly cats, who didn’t settle after Fay died and stopped eating, and lots of administration such as paying bills, informing businesses and working with family.
“I had a good rapport with Fay’s lawyer. She was very supportive and showed lots of empathy. I can’t speak highly enough of her. I did a lot of the legwork as I didn’t want the money to be swallowed up.”
Vicki said it was important for executors to keep all the documentation during the process, in order to be transparent when executing the requirements of the Will.
Vicki says that she remembers Fay as a very capable, kind and loving person. “She would give you her last $10 if she thought you needed a bit more than her. She never talked badly about anybody.
“She wanted this money to go to the Hospice, because she had worked there and so she knew exactly the good work that you were doing. I think she would be happy that the Hospice is publicly acknowledging her because it might encourage other people to do the same thing.”
Mary Potter Hospice would like to acknowledge with respect and gratitude the generous gift given by Fay Wilson. Her gift helps to ensure that the Hospice can continue to provide care for those who need it, into the future. The Hospice also thanks all those unsung heroes, the executors of Wills, who help ensure people’s wishes are respected and carried out.