I eventually found the words to say for my tribute today. I don't know if they managed even to begin to explain how much this wonderful woman meant to me, but this is what I said:
"I have had a wonderful, caring mum who I have been lucky enough to call my best friend as well. Our ups and downs only served to bring us closer and I could tell her anything. We saw or spoke to each other every day.
When Mum found out she had cancer, her first instinct was not to be angry or feel sorry for herself, it was to fight. That stubborn streak is something she passed on to my sisters and I but I know now that it is actually a good trait because it has gotten us through some really difficult times.
Mum taught me lots of things, particularly over the last 9 months.
She taught me that it’s okay to cry, but not to wallow in self pity. She would let you cry a little and then say ‘come on, that’s enough now’ and then it was time to get on with things.
She taught me to surround myself with good friends and family, and I am lucky to have both.
And over the last 9 months I've become quite good at pedicures, since Mum often lifted up a leg and said to me ‘go on then’, meaning it was time to massage her feet with cream and paint her toenails.
Mum was a real family woman. Nothing made her happier that a house full of children and grandchildren. She loved Derek. They have had a happy marriage and were like newly-weds every day that they were together. In the last 9 months Derek cared for Mum so brilliantly, and he was constantly up and down as she said ‘get this, fetch that’. Mum taught Derek a lot over these few months too… he’s a brilliant housekeeper now.
We have all been blessed to have Mum in our lives. She has left us with a hole in our hearts but a head full of happy memories.
I will love and miss her every single day for the rest of my life. I know that I will see you again one day Mum, sweet dreams."
"I have had a wonderful, caring mum who I have been lucky enough to call my best friend as well. Our ups and downs only served to bring us closer and I could tell her anything. We saw or spoke to each other every day.
When Mum found out she had cancer, her first instinct was not to be angry or feel sorry for herself, it was to fight. That stubborn streak is something she passed on to my sisters and I but I know now that it is actually a good trait because it has gotten us through some really difficult times.
Mum taught me lots of things, particularly over the last 9 months.
She taught me that it’s okay to cry, but not to wallow in self pity. She would let you cry a little and then say ‘come on, that’s enough now’ and then it was time to get on with things.
She taught me to surround myself with good friends and family, and I am lucky to have both.
And over the last 9 months I've become quite good at pedicures, since Mum often lifted up a leg and said to me ‘go on then’, meaning it was time to massage her feet with cream and paint her toenails.
Mum was a real family woman. Nothing made her happier that a house full of children and grandchildren. She loved Derek. They have had a happy marriage and were like newly-weds every day that they were together. In the last 9 months Derek cared for Mum so brilliantly, and he was constantly up and down as she said ‘get this, fetch that’. Mum taught Derek a lot over these few months too… he’s a brilliant housekeeper now.
We have all been blessed to have Mum in our lives. She has left us with a hole in our hearts but a head full of happy memories.
I will love and miss her every single day for the rest of my life. I know that I will see you again one day Mum, sweet dreams."