My paternal Gran died long before I was born, in fact she died long before my Dad and Mum got together and got married. However, she was always with us growing up. My paternal Granddad lived with my parents in the house that my Dad’s wages had helped pay for when my Gran was ill. Her picture always stood in pride of place on the dresser top in the sitting room and the wedding picture of my Gran and Grandad hung next to the one of my mum and dad on the wall and it hangs next to it sill on my stairs.
My Grandad William and Gran Marjorie with my Dad in the car
My Grandad didn’t talk a lot about his “Marge” without his eyes filling up with tears. But I remember sitting on his lap whilst he went though the boxes of slides and showed them to me. There were boxes and boxes of slides most of them with Gran in. They often had day trips and picnics out on the moors and my Granddad never went anywhere without his camera. She was a very stylish lady of Italian decent.
Marjorie
Gran was a nurse, specifically working with children who had kidney problems. She loved her job and was very good at it by all accounts and then she fell ill with kidney disease. She very quickly became incredibly sick and was advised that she needed to go on dialysis, which was very new in those days. But she refused, knowing that two children could have dialysis instead of her. She went on to die within six months of her diagnosis, leaving my Granddad heartbroken.
It was only as I was going through some of the paperwork that I brought from Mum’s that I discovered her death certificate and it reminded me of the story, which I often thought must have been exaggerated, as these things sometimes are, but no she died of renal failure on 1st October 1968 aged 43 years old. I also found her Anatomy & Physiology for Nurses book which was from 1941 and have added it to the books in my book shelf. I often wish I could have met her, she looks and sounds like an amazing lady.
She does look and sound like an amazing lady and that dress in the top picture is just gorgeous! She was very stylish and the dress looks amazing on her!
What a lady xx
Oh Jen, what a sad yet fascinating story. To refuse the dialysis in order to save the children; quite incredible.
I’m so pleased I came over here to read this story and have a glimpse into your family history.
(and I adore your gran’s dress in that first photo!)
What an amazing woman!
What an amazing lady she must have been – and a very dedicated nurse by the sound of things. And I think you look a little like her – definitely a family resemblance. Juliex
She looks beautiful and like Julie says I can see some of you in her. What an amazing story too.
What a beautiful and touching post. It is amazing how memories of someone stay with us all our lives. I love tracing my family tree and speaking to older relatives about them for this reason. Hugs xx
I can see you in her eyes, Jen.
A gran to be proud of, so sorry that you never got to meet her yourself but great that you know what a wonderful woman she was.
What a fantastic story, like you say, sounds like urban legend, but incredible that it’s not. A wonderful lady and fab photos.
What a remarkable lady.
And I’m sure I have seen that dress somewhere, recently! Absolutely timeless.
What a lovely story. What a remarkable lady!
What a lovely story and what a fabulous dress she’s wearing! It’s beautiful and would cost a fortune these days, she certainly did have style.
I love the fact you now have her book on your shelf and so very sad her passing away so young 🙁
Big hugs to you xx
This is very touching and brought back memories of my grandparents. She sounds like a very lovely young lady, I’m sorry you didn’t get to know her but I am sure she is glad that you are thinking of her now. xx
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