We are remembering my Grandad. An amazing trombone player in his day as well as a terrifically talented joiner. My Grandad was like a built in best friend. So funny, his smile and laugh just lit up the entire room. And I would always feel safe and secure whenever he was near, he just had a calming presence. He always reassured you that you would be fine and give you a big squeeze and you would instantly feel better. My grandad was so determined, this showed when he had a stroke when I was younger and he had to learn how to read, write and speak again and he did. He passed away two years ago now from falling on a rainy day and after all he had achieved recovering from those traumas, it left such a hole in our lives for him to be suddenly taken when he was so healthy. Our lives are definitely different without him as he was such a light and a joy. Everyone who met him says the same, he was just a force of nature. The best husband, father and grandad in the world.
We are also remembering my Granny (Grandad’s wife) unfortunately she passed when I was a baby so I didn’t get much time with her, which really upsets me but when I hear all the wonderful and also funny stories about her I truly feel like I know her so well. She was so kind, so creative, also a force of nature. She was very determined, she ran a restaurant whilst taking care of her family and just had so many feathers to her cap! She had an eye for detail. I wish I could have spent years on end with her, going around antique shops which she so dearly loved. She was a treasured wife, mother and Granny.
We are also remembering my Auntie Bridget. When my granny passed away Auntie Bridget sort of took on the role of Granny duties. And to this day , I can say she truly shaped who I am. She was so kind, so delicate, always fair. Auntie Bridget loved church and keeping her rosary beads close to her (which is something I like to do now because of her), everything in her home was perfect and beautiful. Some of the best memories of my childhood are school holidays at my Auntie Bridget’s. And walking through her front door and getting a whiff of her homemade chicken soup that she was cooking. Everyone who knew her, held a special place in their hearts for Auntie Bridget and that’s a fact. We miss her everyday.

And finally we are remembering my Granny Flynn (Auntie Bridget’s sister and my Mums Granny) she too passed when I was baby so I don’t have any memories with her and I so wish I did because of the stories I hear she was such a kind and wonderful person to know. I have one picture of her holding me when I was just born, I’m asleep in her lap and she is looking down at me just like an angel and she is so very gently holding my tiny hand with the tips of her fingers, the picture is so beautiful and special because although I never knew her that picture shows how much she loved me and how many memories we would have made together , the memories would have been wonderful. My mum describes her as so elegant and very much “a lady” and she was a huge part of my mum’s growing up, almost everyday they would see her, she was like a “second mum”. It just shows how treasured she was.

To my beautiful Momma Bear???? –

I love you more than stars in the sky ???? sand on the beach and waves in the ocean ???? till we are together again keep watching over me and I promise to keep doing you proud ????????xxx

Remembering my beautiful mum at Christmas time xxxx love and miss you so so much xxxx

Remembering my lovely Mum (aka Nanny Harry) who always made Christmas so special and fondly remembering our happy times together. Forever in our hearts. X

Always in our hearts and forever grateful to have had you in our lives.
Karen, Phil, Sophie and Maddie xxxx

Christmas was always a special time between my Dad and I. Always big on traditions, we would go pick out a tree together, decorate it and the house whilst listening to Christmas music and eating mince pies!
This year marks 5 years since he passed away, and I have struggled to uphold these traditions the past 5 years, but I finally feel like I will be able to get back to them this year with the fond memories of Christmases past and smile knowing he would be happy that I can get back to enjoying a holiday that I have always loved.

Merry Christmas Dad. I love and miss you everyday. I hope that I do you proud with my Christmas tree choice!! 🙂 xxxx

They made Christmas so very special for me I hope they know I am thinking of them ❤️

Missing you both so very much, Christmas isn’t the same anymore ❤️

My mum was the best mum and friend I could have wished for. We laughed, we cried we were their for each other always. To loose such a wonderful person makes me realise how lucky I was to have you in my life. For that I will always be grateful. X

For Gavin, still loved & not forgotten x

To the most amazing mum who had such a fight in those last few weeks and we couldn’t have done it without the help of St Barnabas home team and many more. Miss you so much xxx

Mum, miss you more than words can say. Loved and remembered every day xxxx

His wife and children and grandchildren miss him so much. He was so important in all our lives.

Love & miss you always, Ann. We will toast you at Christmas, and share stories. You’re in our hearts forever xxx

THINKING OF YOU BOTH THIS CHRISTMAS TIME AND EVERY OTHER DAY WHEREVER YOU BOTH MAY BE LOVE ALWAY
FROM ALL THE FAMILY XXXXXX

Greatly loved and missed

To my wonderful husband Simon at Christmas … a fighter till the end and looked after so well by the St. Barnabas team

Thinking of you at Christmas and Always Forever in our hearts love your Daughter Olivia and Husband Gary xxxxxx

Both loved and missed by all the family.

Thinking of you always David, love from Steve and Karen

Dad, you passed away 18th Oct 2020, you were our hero and the strength and backbone of our family.
Mum, you passed away 20th Dec 2020, you were always there for us when we needed to talk. We are all so shocked but understand that you didn’t want to be separated from dad after being together for 58 years.
We are devastated and in so much pain right now from losing you both, the only bit of comfort we have is knowing that you are back together, side by side where you belong. Please don’t worry about us, in time we will be ok and we will look out for one another like you’ll want us to do.
We will never forget you and everything you did for us, you will be missed so much and our lives from now on will never be the same.
Take care of one another mum and dad, we’ll see you again one day, sleep tight,
Your loving daughters,
Michele, Simone and Rosalind
XXX

We all miss you so much, but will love you forever xxx

This is our first Christmas without Dad, Maurice Willoughby, whom we lost in January. We miss him so much and Christmas will not be the same without him. Thank you to the wonderful St Barnabas nurses who cared for Dad during those difficult final weeks. Our family is so indebted to you all for your love and support.

Not a day goes by that I don't think about you. Wish you was here to see my beautiful family. You would love my wife and step son Carter and Sebastian is growing up to be a little genius. Love you always dad xxxxxxx

Mum and dad gave me a perfect childhood. The older I get, the more I love and appreciate them. I hope they realised this.

He was always so kind and calm and passed away last November at St.Barnabas Hospice. I loved him so dearly, we wrote to each other regularly, he is greatly missed by myself and his grandson Ethan.