I would also like to thank all of those who sent cards and flowers, came to the funeral and/ or sent their best wishes, it is very much appreciated by all of us.
My Sister Janice's words:
More a Martha than
a Mary, Mum demonstrated love by practical action: knitting, cooking, visiting,
cleaning up, joining in film productions, fancy dress. She taught us to be
honest, accepting and cooperative by example.
When I experienced
a child leaving home myself, I appreciated how hard it must have been for Mum
to accept that we were all basically out of the family home before we were 18
and Mark and Gail went overseas for considerable lengths of time. So I want to
thank her for letting us go, but for making it clear that we were definitely
not forgotten and always welcome back.
My Mum was my number one fan and supporter and I will miss her
terribly.'
My words:
I remember one time in the 1970s when I was
heavily into Women's liberation. I upset mum by saying that we shouldn't
celebrate Mother's Day because it was a patriarchal plot for keeping women in
their place or some such bunkum. I only ever didn't see her or send a card that
once and am quite happy to celebrate Mother's Day these days.
We have already talked a bit about tennis,
but it was a great part of our lives, especially when we had the Edenhurst team,
which always had at least four Newtons in it. Because of that, mum was
responsible for at between four and six afternoon teas, so Saturday mornings
were always busy with cakes baking and benches loaded with slices of bread and
fillings and a bit of a chain gang combining them.
 |
| What mum wrote on my 50th birthday |
I was so pleased that we were able to have
mum living with Mike and I after she found it too difficult to manage in the
retirement village. For that I must thank Mike. He has been extremely
supportive, and in fact I believe it was his idea that she move in with us. We
started talking about the move about two years earlier, but mum was fiercely
independent and wanted to stay in her unit as long as she could. We made some
changes to our place, turning Katy and Jenni's rooms into a small apartment for
mum and she moved in about 18 months ago.
Although she was becoming frail and finding
getting around quite difficult, she still washed her own dishes and made her
bed each day. Last Wednesday we went to see the second Hotel Marigold movie. She
quite enjoyed it but thought it was a bit too loud and couldn’t understand why
I’d cried. I still find it hard to believe that she is gone, but I am so glad
that she went quickly and hardly suffered.
Katy: Jean doted on her grandchildren and we were all very lucky growing up to have such a close and loving family. Grandma was the cornerstone of this strong family bond and her role in maintaining closeness and disseminating family news will be sorely missed. We would like to honour our beloved grandmother by sharing some of the reasons that we are all so thankful to her.
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| With her first great grandchild, Francesca |
Mary Jean: Grandma was a strong, kind and hardworking woman. She took
life's challenges in her stride, carrying on without fuss and accepting all the
changes that she lived through. We will miss her grace, generosity and
no-nonsense attitude.
 |
| Walking down Elizabeth Street, Hobart about 1942, the back reads 'How do you like me?' |
 |
| The first photo we have of mum |
Jenni: Grandma was smart, multi-talented and a great teacher. Many
of us had our first cooking lessons, knitting lessons and board game
indoctrination from Grandma. Even at 94 years of age, she kept her mind sharp
with regular games and retelling old memories. I think she would be proud of
the strong role she played in making us the formidable scrabble and Rummikub
opponents we are today.
Jenni: Travelling with Grandma was a highlight for us all. We each
had a turn travelling with her to new places throughout Australia, seeing local
attractions, visiting friends and family and developing life-long memories.
Sandy: We always ate well with Grandma, who was a great cook and
always let us lick the bowl and wooden spoon after many a sponge cake. Her
pavlovas, rhubarb pies, roast dinners and gravy were highlights of our visits.
As were the seemingly endless supply of Splice, Drumstick and Magnum icecreams
she stored away as treats for us and other visitors.
Katy: Our shared enjoyment of classic movies and cups of tea became
a weekly tradition. I loved visiting her every week and watching another
episode of Downton Abbey or selecting another Bogart movie from the collection.
Grandma was one of my closest friends and I will miss her terribly.
Mary Jean: At the age of 94 you have left this world and whilst over the
years your body aged, it is inspiring to see how your mind and spirit had
stayed strong. Thank you for blessing us with your presence and may we meet
again!
Jenni: Grandma had strong opinions and one hell of a sense of
humour. I am proud to think that I have inherited even a small portion of her strength,
cheekiness and wit along with my genetically-superior scrabble skills. While
the sense of loss will fade with time – I will always miss you and remember you
with a smile.
Sandy: Grandma, we love you and will deeply miss you. Thank you for
all the wonderful memories we have of you and the values that you instilled in
us. I know you’re with Grandpa and
Nanna now and you are at peace. I now look forward to sharing these memories of
you with my own children as bedtime stories.
