To my dear Sister, What memories you have left behind! We will all miss you very much. Take your well earned rest. All my love Maureen

Mother Dear mother I have loved you since the day my eyes first beheld you. I loved you when you sang to me and held me on your knee. When I stood uncertain at the school gate you were there to reassure me. You gave me praise in my learnings and confidence became me When you disciplined me good conscience you grew in me. You were there to pick up my failures and challenge me to try again. All through my life you have been there beside me, even when I was far away. You came to find me my ever loving and constant mother. It was already the autumn of your life when I returned To give a little back to you And we delighted in our garden walks, although your steps Were now more frail. Knitting cooking and laughing still – you were our joy. Age indeed bent your back but not your spirit for a fight In kind love Our Lord took you one morning, while you made a cup of tea. I like to think he spared you a winter where you could only forget That wonderful life you have lived. Your loss does not diminish my love as I see you in your chair For I know your spirit has flown but yet you are still there I shall indeed walk in the garden and know you are but a breath away Now a guardian angel to hear our loving prayers.

Granny Vera, there are so many things I never got to say to you and in so many ways I can’t imagine you not being in my life. Our lives were woven together in many visible and invisible ways and now I will forever feel that something is missing from my life. Growing up without Dad about much you and Granddad Bob helped shaped me in so many important ways into the person I am today, and we are probably more alike than you or I realised. I too am fiercely passionate, I can be obstinate, I will stand up for civil liberties, I recycle lots, my friends regard me as eccentric but loyal, and I vehemently want people to do the right thing and be fair to one another. All these traits I associate with you so I must have inherited your rebellious spirit, now you are gone who is going to disapprove of my ever changing hair, my inability to dress smartly and my taste in rock music? I was your lovable rogue of a granddaughter, but I knew you didn’t care about these things really, just as long as I was happy. I used to love to sit with you and remember all those happy times with Granddad Bob; we used to laugh at how we made you collect the kites and how strict Granddad was with us all. I’m so sorry that Alzheimers was stealing your precious memories away from you, but even the last time I saw you, you were still all there and still so full of life and complaints about the state of the world. I was making more time in my life to come and see you just when you were taken away from us, which makes your passing seem so unfair to me. I took time for granted, and perhaps I was in denial about you ever not being in my life, but I have learnt my lesson and promise to put aside more time in the future for my family. I wish I could say all this to you in person but I know that you knew how much I loved you. I will keep you in my heart now and I will remember and keep close the lessons you taught me. I will miss you every day, but I hope this tribute will keep our memories alive and bring me and others comfort in the act of remembrance - Lisette