Bay's bichon lady will get special send-off

Lilian Duncan and champion show dog Maggie. Photo/Yours Truly Portraits

Lilian Catherine Duncan 1946 - 2017

Bichon frise dogs and their owners will form a guard of honour at the funeral of Lilian Duncan whose love of the breed and grooming skills earned a reputation that extended beyond the Bay of Plenty.

Mrs Duncan, 71, owned bichons for 30 years and was a distinctive figure on the show circuit during the 1990s where her talent for the difficult and painstaking task of grooming the breed's woolly coats was first noticed.

"She had a natural eye for grooming," daughter Tracey Gibney said.

Mrs Duncan saw an opportunity to establish a grooming business specialising in bichons and opened a studio that quickly became a magnet for owners from all over the Bay of Plenty and Waikato.

"The dogs would come in quite bedraggled and go out looking like show dogs," Mrs Gibney said.

Her large circle of friends and fellow bichon frise owners included Trevor Thorne who described her as a master groomer.

"All her life Lilian loved dogs, and bichons became her absolute favourite."

Mr Thorne said she not only left behind family and friends but the many dogs who were regular visitors to her renowned grooming studio, appropriately called Lilian's.

"This became a moment in time for many where they would become obedient in every way. The stood, they sat, they lay and they listened to that loving familiar voice that will be forever sadly missed."

Mrs Duncan's love affair with dogs began as a 1-year-old in her Australian birth town of Brunswick, Victoria, when she saw a sheepskin-covered toy dog in a shop window.

She emigrated from Melbourne to New Zealand as a young bride with Kiwi husband Jim and the couple set up home in Tauranga 50 years ago.

Mrs Duncan bred bichons from her two show champions Lace and Maggie, travelling to shows throughout the North Island and to national championships.

Mrs Gibney said her mother was known for her own immaculate personal grooming which included cutting a stylish figure in the show ring.

"She carried that with her for her whole life - she loved fashion."

Mrs Duncan was active in the bichon frise club and her many other interests in life included being an avid sewer and quilter.

"She was very friendly and outgoing."

She is survived by brother Gary, husband Jim, daughters Tracey and Raewyn, son Trevor and nine grandchildren.

Her final act seven weeks ago when she entered hospital for the last time was to find loving homes for her two bichon girls Milly Molly Mandy, 6, and Emily, 2.

Mrs Duncan's funeral service takes place at 11am next Tuesday at the Olive Tree Cottage, Pyes Pa.