Earlier in the week I attended the funeral of a woman who inspired and nurtured me as a teen. She died on Christmas Eve, just like my mum last year and it was a pretty surreal experience. She had been ill for a short while, even so her death came as a complete shock to me, some people you think are just invincible.
I do not think that there are enough words in this world to describe the inspirational woman, who has left us all. There was not even standing room at the funeral and when the whole of the congregation stood to sing Don Williams, You’re my best friend I could almost feel her stood smiling on insisting that we were not flat and to sign from our tummy. I managed to hold it together right until the end when Her husband Johnnie stood as they played Marty Robbins, My Woman, my Woman my Wife, everyone then clapped as they closed the curtains at the crematorium.
She was a special woman for many reasons to may people as she ran the local Junior Jazz Band when I was young, so there were lots of people there who I grew up with, but haven’t seen in more that 20 years. It was really odd to not recognise these people, when everyone kept coming up to me and recognised me. I tried to explain that having relocated in my early 20’s I really didn’t recognise a lot of them, that they had changed through the years and that only the ones I kept in contact with where the ones that I recognised.
M took me under her wing when I left home at 16 and didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life, she provided me with council and guidance during some difficult teenage times and not once did she ever judge me. She welcomed me in to her family and her home and will always hold a huge place in my heart. Not only sis she provide me with a bed, she also provided me with the comfort and stability I needed during these times. She was one of the first people I took MadDad to meet after we got together. I remember walking round her garden in Spring 18 years ago whilst she quizzed him as only she could get away with and I remember her face beaming at me from the aisle in the Church when we got married.
She always lead by example and never did anything by half’s and has left behind a loving family, who certainly did her proud. Her four daughters and two sons, stood up and sang loud and proud for their mum. So here to you, M. Your legacy will continue for a long, long time.
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