EULOGY to MY MUM I am before you today talking for you all, our family and our friends, here together in grief, in emotional shock for losing our Mum, our Nana, our Daughter, Sister, Auntie Janet, Janet. We are longing, we are yearning, we are mourning ... united side by side, hand in hand, all together. We are all united in our desire to pay our respects to Mum, to honour her, and today with our words, to do our best to fill a new aching emptiness ... ... that we all feel. As our words fade today and tomorrow dawns, Mum’s physical warmth fades away from with us. We all know that life without Mum, without Janet, is and will continue to be very difficult. We have all despaired at our sadness and loss, over this last short and yet long painful week, over many agonising months we helplessly watched her physical body weaken and diminish. We wish to be close to her for one more time, and yet we all know we must also let her go. Only the goodness of what Mum gave to us all, now gives us the strength to move forward. We have strength form her sparkling smile, her love, her care, and her support for us all ... ... and do not fear, her love for us, continues beyond today and tomorrow. So let us not dwell only in a mournful state and sad condition, let us celebrate Mum’s endless love and continuous goodness. My tribute to my Mum, and your tribute to Nana, Daughter, Sister, Auntie Janet, Janet ... ... continues beyond our words, ... beyond today and tomorrow, ... but deeply in all of our hearts, ... forever and forever and forever. Our tribute and our words today, help us to overcome the sorrow we all feel, and to remind us of the qualities of Mum, to hold fond memories, locked deeply in all our hearts forever. Mum was the very essence of giving, of compassion, of dignity, of style, of love, of beauty. Her contribution to us all was to give of herself, take little from us, and to expect nothing. Her duty to me as mother, and to you all as you knew her, was a continuous love and care. To us all, and for us all she was selfless, always putting us all first, and her own needs later. Mum ... We will doubtlessly feel cheated that you were taken from us, but in our time we will learn to accept your passing, and that we were touched by your self-effacing grace and humility. We remember and treasure your knitting, the clickety clack of your needles, especially those of us who may still wear your woolly hats, your cardigans, your jumpers, your knitted dolls. We remember your gracefulness, your elegance, gliding around the ballroom dance floor. We remember you pulling on your yellow marigolds to tackle the next pile of washing up. We remember you gleefully outwitting us at cards, whilst sharing a bottle of wine with us. We remember your care and attention to the many patients at Dorchester County Hospital. We remember your tender loving care of the babies and of the staff at Sunny Day Nursery. We remember your naivety, your guile, your determination, your hard work, your kindness. We remember your personal dignity, your graceful style, your meticulous attention to detail. Mum today we say ‘thank you’ for the way you brightened our lives with your love for us all. Your love your affection your care for us ... we will all remember and treasure forever. You Mum stand tall amongst us, your family and your friends, a tower of precious qualities. We always remember, and lock deep in our hearts, your beautiful smile, which lives on in us. Your love given to us all, from your shining smile, and your sparkling eyes ... will be forever. ... and we will forever gaze up at the new sparkling star you have become in the skies above. You Mum are a ballerina of life and you will ... forever forever forever ... dance in our hearts. Above all we give thanks for the life of a woman, I am so proud to be able to call my Mum, for others here to call their daughter, their nana, their sister, their auntie, their friend. You rest peacefully Mummy, from your ever loving son, family and friends.