In Memory of Grandma

Sadly my Grandma passed away peacefully in her sleep on Tuesday 21st November 2006. She was born Elsie Maud Archer on 5th December 1912. Today would have been her 94th Birthday. I would like to share the words I spoke at her funeral service. After a few very sleepless nights, when I lay awake trying to get my thoughts in order, I came up with the following: Grandma was like an extra Mum, only with more time to spare. She was, at times, my Teacher, my Carer, my Counsellor and my Nurse. Grandma taught me so many things, not least how to knit and crochet and how to play patience and rummy, but much to Grandma’s disgust, I never learned to enjoy a cup of tea! I remember spending many happy holidays staying with Grandma and Grandpa in Brundal, where Grandma and I would go to the library, Grandma would let me play with her button box, we would play card games, visit Grandpa at the Old peoples home where he worked, and best of all go down to the river to feed the ducks. One occasion I remember well was when I slipped over after my bath and I bit my tongue. Grandma was very calm and stemmed the flow of blood with a hanky, But what I remember most was that she never said “I told you so!” Even though I had been told over and over not to run. She did however remind me of it a number of times over the years when I rushed into things. Once Grandma and Grandpa moved to Downham things changed and I no longer went to stay for a few days, instead I visited nearly every week. Grandma and Grandpa became our babysitters if Mum and Dad went out, or if we had time off school for illness. Grandma was a rock; she wasn’t a hard person, but a solid reliable rock that I knew I could turn to from a very young age. Grandma cared about everything I did. She listened to my tales of school, college and married life. I always felt that she was proud of my achievements, no matter how small. She listened without judging. But she was not averse to offering her advice if she thought you needed it! I remember how she would complain about all the “Old” people in the queue on Thursday at the post office when she went to collect her pension! She had a great sense of humour and a very sharp wit. The stories she told of her brief stay in High Haven had us in stitches. Especially when she described using the lift without permission, or sneaking out for a sly puff! To quote from a 1980’s song about Grandmas with which we tormented her as kids; There's no one quite like Grandma And I know you will agree That she always is a friend to you And she's a friend to me There's no one quite like Grandma She's there in times of need Before it's bedtime, on her knee To us a book she'll read And one day when we're older We'll look back and say There's no one quite like Grandma She has helped us on our way Grandma will be missed by all of us, but she has left us with a lot of happy memories.