Tribute to Marji

On the 20th August 2006 I received a phone call from my uncle Chris telling me that aunt marj had died in her sleep.

Marji had been suffering with the early stages of Alzheimer's and over the last eighteen months or so had been in and out of hospital.

Chris and his family were always there and Marji ,being her usual self was more concerned for Chris and the children than for herself.

They had been married for sixty one and a half years, and were totally devoted to each other  and their  seven children, Patti, Colin, Jackie, Carol, Kevin, Terri and Roz, as well as all of their grandchildren and gt grandchildren.

Yesterday we had the funeral, a day of great sadness but also one of happiness.

The sadness of not having her with us physically any more. The happiness in  the knowing of her.

Patti the eldest of Chris and Marji's children gave a reading, She told of the great love between Chris and Marji and the love they gave to their children and to anyone they knew. It was a celebration of her life and of everyone whom she touched with her presence.

Mel and Anna- Marie told of their gran, the love she gave and the great humour and zest for life she had.

Colin   then read  an extract from a letter, faltering at times , he told how his mum had touched another families life, this was typical of Marji, she never thought ill of anyone and would go out of her way to help others, always with a smile and a laugh. She enjoyed life no matter what came along.

as the funeral ended and we were outside the chapel Chris came out and you knew that everyone present wanted to hug him and try and take away some of his pain. Even in their grief his families concern was for their dad, his concern was for everyone else .

Over the last few years I had been lucky enough to take Marji and Chris  and Fred over to see gt aunt Frances every 4-6 weeks when she lived at Tooting.

I would pick Fred up then we would go to Chris and Marji's, they would come out holding each others hands or arm in arm asking how you were and how was the family. Chris would help Marji into the car both of them laughing at the performance of it all.

When we arrived  he would help her out and they would walk arm in arm to Frances's.

Chris and I were the entertainment and we used to have them all laughing. Chris would pick up Marji's handbag  and put on a funny voice ,one hand on hip he would 'sway 'across the room. Marji who used to sit beside me on the sofa would collapse against me in laughter, telling him to stop before she wet her knickers.

They say that some people have the presence to light up a room, Marji and Chris had enough to light up a city.

As I write this I realise I am also talking about my mum and dad George and Flo, and also my uncle Fred and aunt Ivy .

The three brothers were lucky in finding Marji, Flo and Ivy and we were luckier in having them as parents, and aunts and uncles.My mum and dad  gave us the same love that Marji and Chris gave their children. My uncle Fred and aunt ivy did the same for their children. All gave their love and attention to us all.

As my sister Jenny said ' we had a great childhood loving parent ,aunts and uncles and lots of cousins'

Marji and Flo's and Ivy's legacy to us all is to give that same love to our families, to help others when we can and most of all I think to enjoy life

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