08 Nov 1934 - 27 Nov 2009 Roo's words said at Mum's funeral - I thought it fitting to have them displayed here. "Our Mum - I should say ‘My Mum’, one of those silly little family jokes, but I think she would have expected me to say it – MUM was a wonderful, very special and truly inspirational person, and her passing has created a massive void. But, in remembering Mum, the life she led and her influence on her family and her friends, we can fill some of that emptiness with those SPECIAL memories that are very much a part of each and every one of us, memories that we will each hold dear and treasure for the rest of our lives. Mum was a very strong person, one who believed in the traditional values; someone, who above everything else placed the greatest importance in her family and close friends. She would sacrifice her needs for others; she was staunchly protective, supportive and loyal to all of us: her Son’s and our loved ones, her brother, her daughter in laws, sister-in-laws, her grandchildren, her cousins, her nieces and nephews her friends and companions. WE WERE MUM’S LIFE, HER PRIDE AND, HER JOY. Colin and I have spoken too many of you over these last couple of weeks and, being able to share so many memories, those that are precious and personal to you, has been wonderful for us. Mum was a real Lady, an inspiration, a listener – never judgemental but supportive and reassuring, full of energy and get up and go, determined to live life to the full. Mum made life fun; she had so many passions and, I should add, had a delicious sense of mischief. Today we should be celebrating a life that was full: full of fun, full of adventure, a life rich with friendship and love, a life largely full of happiness. There were of course those moments when happiness was replaced by sadness; when Dad died, Mum was only 42, in the prime of her life, left alone to raise two sons, aged 11 and 16, two dependents that needed her to be stronger than ever. More recently, Mum was devastated to lose her brother, Uncle Ron. And yet, what Mum always did, with great resolve and dignity, she found the strength, not just for her but the strength for all of us too, the strength to fight back, strong and determined, determined to take even more from life than before. So, as Mum would have, let’s celebrate Mum’s life, a life lived to the full, a life generous with love. Such was her energy, her spirit and the influence she had upon us all; Mum is not gone, those wonderful, treasured memories will be a part in us all, forever, and for the rest of our lives."