Early January 2013

Starting off my Blog for 2013 on rather a sad note with the news of the passing of my favourite Aunt aged 93. She was a remarkable lady, dearly loved by all who knew her. To me in the past few years she has seemed the mainstay of our family the last direct link to my Grandmother and my Mother, her elder sister, both of whom died some years ago. My Aunt, like my mother, was a devout Catholic and the Church played an important part in their lives.

It must have also helped my Aunt a great deal in coming to terms with the loss of her Brother-in-law at the end of the war, followed by the loss of her dearly loved twin sister from Pneumonia at the age of 33. She then took on the responsibility of bring up her Sister's Son, and although engaged to be married continued to live at home, caring for her Mother and nephew until her mother died. She then married (aged 40 ) her long time suitor, and went on to have two lovely girls, but tragically lost her husband, many years later, when he died suddenly while they were on holiday abroad. It was a blow to us all as he was also greatly loved and respected by all who knew him, a carpenter by trade who prided himself, rightly, on his skill and doing a really perfect job. Dovetail joints every time! As he died abroad his body had to be sent back to this country for burial in a sealed coffin, although it was apparently rough wood I remember my Aunt saying that he would have been pleased as the joints were dovetailed. After his death she concentrated on the bringing up of her 2 teenage daughters, her sister's son had by then left home and married, and doing work for the Church. She made several trips to NZ to visit friends who had emigrated there and continued to enjoy her life. One of her daughters came to live with her, with her family, some years ago and she in turn has cared for her Mother. Now my Aunt has gone she also is left to care for 2 daughters. My Aunt had 3 sisters, all of whom died before her (2 of Cancer) she herself kept in fairly good health was very good at needlework, also craft work, in fact was in the middle of doing an embroidery  when she died, . Years ago she would make all her own clothes, as would all her sisters, a talent which unfortunately did not pass down to me or my sister! Marrying late and having children seems to have happened a lot in our family, my mother married when she was 27. but my other Aunt had her children later on in life, and I did not marry until aged 40. Luckily all our children have been normal healthy people and grown up to be a credit to us.

My Aunt was kind,compassionate , fun loving and someone you always felt a joy at meeting,she will be sorely missed. May she RIP..