Eulogy given by Valma Lamb:

"Born in 1908, died 1997, and the world hardly noticed for she simply lived for those she loved...but those she loved remember."

I know I speak for my father, my sister and my brother when I say that our mourning for Mum started a long time ago. We have been slowly and painfully losing her over the last few years. Today we want to remember her as the beautiful and caring person she was.

Born in 1908, Mum was the oldest girl in the family, having two older brothers, three younger brothers and a late arrival baby sister. Her father was a railway worker so the family went where he was posted. They lived in Yalgoo for several years and she had fond memories of going to picnics on the railway push/pull trolleys, attending sunday school and the community lifestyle of a country town.

When Mum was in her late primary school years, the family returned to Perth to live in John St which is now in the area known as Northbridge. She told me her country education wasn't up to city standards and the only reason she wasn't held back a year was the head teacher was so impressed with her knowledge of the scriptures.

At high school Mum excelled in dressmaking and millinery. When she left school she worked for a short while for a milliner then due to her mother's ill health was required to stay home to help with the housework and to look after her little sister. When Mum's beloved older brother Roy won a prize in the lottery he paid a deposit on a piano in appreciation for all she was doing for their Mother...I can only assume that it was a combined effort at paying it off. Mum took piano lessons, and for a late starter became a very proficient pianist. At one stage she even stood in for the pianist at a silent movie theatre. She was an accomplished dressmaker, but found it very difficult to make money working from home. Later on when her little sister was older, she worked as a seamstress at WA Knitters - she had fond memories of this time of her life.

She was only 17 when she met Dad. Yachting was their great love...well it was Dad's great love and that was enough to make it Mum's as well. She even won a trophy as Lady Skipper. Because of the hard times caused by the Depression Mum and Dad courted for seven years before they were brave enough to take the plunge and get married. The Depression had been very hard on a lot of people, including Mum and Dad. Dad had worked outrageous hours to make a bare living and Mum helped in every way she could to make ends meet. Ten months after they were married Gwenda arrived. Over the next three and a half years, with the improvement in the economy, and Dad getting a regular job at the brewery, Mum and Dad were ready to build their own home and have another child...me!

During World War 2 Mum lost two brothers. Despite my being only 4 years and 4 months old I can still remember her heartwrenching sobbing. Mum dearly wanted a son and despite having nearly lost her life giving birth to me, she tried for and got her son, George Vernon, named after her two brothers who had been killed in action.
How hard it must have been for her to then see her husband leave for active duty overseas. Mum was never robust, and her health after having George was poor. It was just as well he was such a good baby. Now I would really love to say that over the years we never tired of hearing about what a lovely little fellow George was...but unfortunately I can't do that!

During the war Mum lived very frugally and swapped clothing coupons (mainly with her young sister Hazel who had now reached her 20's) for second hand clothes which she ingeniously and skilfully made into clothes for us. Right through childhood and even beyond our teenage years Mum sewed and knitted for us. When Gwenda married, Mum made the wedding gown which was later also worn by myself, Sandra and Karen.

I asked my daughter Jenny what were her childhood memories of her nanna, and she said "Nanna was always washing dishes, she never growled at us and at the beach she would walk straight into the ocean no matter how cold it was."
...My memory is that she was always there when we needed her.

I would like to quote a few lines of the Beatitudes from the Sermon on the Mount because I really think Jesus was talking about my Mum.

Blessed are the patient and gentle; they shall inherit the land.
Blessed are the pure of heart, they shall see God.
Blessed are the peace-makers; they shall be called the children of God.

I remember once when Mum felt she had been pushed around and not given a fair go, I quoted that line to her:
"Blessed are the patient and gentle for they shall inherit the land"
and her response to me was...
"Well, I'm jolly glad to hear we get something".

Mum you have been so patient...you richly deserve your eternal reward.