Memory of a Wonderful Nana 1916 to 2001

This is my Nana (my Mum's mum) and she was the best. Today would have been her 97th birthday had she been living, but she died 12 years ago this summer. I still miss her very much....

The summer she died she was taken to hospital after a fall. Although her hip wasn't broken, she was so frail they kept her in. She passed away not long afterwards.

I think the picture may have been taken at either her 80th or 85th birthday party. It is one of the last pictures I have. The only other thing would have been my grandparents ruby wedding anniversary, but I'm not sure when that was, although she seems to have the same dress on (and my grandfather died in 1997). The photograph of the ruby wedding cake was taken in a different place with my grandparents cutting it.

I've recently brought out and re-read all the letters I received from her in later years as I grew up. The strangest thing that I've noticed is that she mentions things like being excited that my brother was getting married, and my HND which I completed in 1993, but never once did she date any of the letters! The only thing I can do is roughly date the year they were written. The saddest thing is that after my grandfather died she seems to have stopped writing.....

I've got tears in my eyes today as I remember a wonderful lady, who went through so many trials during the war, and yet carried on and brought up 4 children (my mum being the eldest). Carried on all through my Grandfather's cancer, and untimely death as they discovered a nasty tumour which had been hiding two days before his death...not so many scans and things in those days. She was a very brave and wonderful grandmother.

I wrote 'An Ode to Nana' after her death, but am not able to find it at the moment.

The thing I always remember as well is that if she left an answerphone message she'd always say at the end 'Hugs and Kisses' Nana and Grandad; the same with all the lovely letters.

So 'Hugs and Kisses' Nana, you truly were the best grandmother a girl could want (and I know you're watching on (painfree) from above) :)