StOM StOM 1611 | Page 14

Not wanting to pick up a needle and thread in her new surroundings of Huntingdon, she embarked on a few different jobs, but it wasn't until 12 years ago when she came across a job that suited her down to the ground and a job that she had wished she had done all of her life. The job was as a care assistant at Huntingdon Community Centre helping adults with special needs. Her caring nature meant she had finally found her perfect job... My mother loved her job and the people she helped, but the added bonus was the people that she worked with... They may have stated out as colleagues but the bond and rapport between this tight group of ladies meant that they were primarily friends and colleagues second. Each week they would organise meals out where they would be put the world to right. They would go on weekend breaks, to far flung places such as Paris, Monaco, Rome and in one case St. Andrews to attend the marriage of my wife and I... She loved those nights and city breaks but most of all she loved her “girls” who sit here today. So I have told you a brief outline of my mother on where she came from and what she did and valued but how would you describe her... The words, fun, warm, caring came up many times when speaking to others... but for me she was just a typical Glasgow mother, perfect in every way. She was the voice of reason, the shoulder I would cry on and the person I would run to in time of need... Never did I see a tear from her eye; not because she was heartless but she was too busy helping others. Even in her final days, she was taking care of me, making sure that I was okay and everybody around her was okay... As my tears flowed she stayed strong. My mother will be sorely missed by all of us here today and especially her grandchildren Maddie, Charles and Monty, who brought her so much joy. Never was she happier when the kids came bounding through the front door looking for a biscuit or when watching them at one of their theatrical school or sporting events. They were her world and she was their super gran... When we told Monty, the youngest of the grandchildren, that God had taken gran to heaven, Monty demanded that we get him on the phone NOW and tell him to bring his gran back... I wish so much that we could have done this for him. We must thank God that my mother’s illness was not a long drawn-out affair and thank the medical staff who tried to do everything they could for her. In the very last days when she was in the hospice, we must thank all the staff at the Sue Ryder hospice who looked after her and who also looked after my Dad, Sister and I so well... We will always be indebted to their professionalism and kindness in our darkest hour. Mum, I speak on behalf of everybody here today; we will miss you dearly and thank you for everything. StOM Page 14