Monday 21 September 2015

Goodbye Nancy

I belong to an over-sixty exercise class which meets each Wednesday afternoon for an hour's gentle (well - fairly gentle) exercise.   Ever since I started going the class has followed the same pattern.

We meet at 1.30pm and we do sitting exercises for forty minutes, then standing and moving exercises for the last twenty minutes.   After that we have a cup of tea.   If it is anyone's birthday we often have a special cake - last week it was one lady's ninetieth and we had a lovely hedgehog cake and sat out in the sunshine to eat it.

But up until quite recently we always had cake with our cup of tea because Nancy, one of the long-standing members, always but always baked cake specially.   Sometimes it would be something like a lemon drizzle cake or a chocolate cake, other times it would be fancy cup cakes with icing.   We never knew until she took the lid off the box what would be forthcoming.   Without exception those cakes were delicious.

Now, sadly, Nancy has died and this morning quite a few of us went to her funeral, held in the Methodist Church in our local market town.   We shall always remember her with a great deal of pleasure - she was always quiet, unassuming and gentle.   And she made jolly good cakes.

We are not the only ones who will miss her.   For some years she has worked tirelessly for Blue Cross Dog Rescue - both adopting dogs and walking them daily and also raising money for the charity.  There was a plate in church to collect money for them.
Such a kind lady - she will be much missed.

20 comments:

donna baker said...

So sorry to hear of her passing. I am sure she took much pleasure in your company too. There is a special place in heaven for the charitable ones.

Jennifer said...

That is sad. I'm sorry for your loss.

Heather said...

Nancy sounds like a lovely caring person and will be missed by so many people - she must have had many friends. It's such a shock to lose someone suddenly but how much better for Nancy to go that way than to suffer a painful illness.

Anonymous said...

Making delicious cakes and looking after homeless creatures sound like two pretty good things to be remembered for.

Gwil W said...

Salt of the earth.

Mac n' Janet said...

Sad to lose a friend we lost one this week too. He was a police officer on his way home from work and he was killed in a traffic accident. So sad, he was due to be married in 3 weeks.

Joanne Noragon said...

May her gentle soul be found in another.

Simon Douglas Thompson said...

Sounds like a lovely lady!

John Going Gently said...

Chin up pat!

Maureen @ Josephina Ballerina said...

Oh, what a sad day for you and the larger community, Pat. I read a beautiful poem once and it has always stayed with me. I offer it to you now as I once found it:

Scottish Samhain Prayer for the Newly Dead

You are going home to your home of winter,
To your home of autumn, of spring, and of summer;
You are going home to the Land of the Living,
To the restful haven of the waveless sea.

Peace of the Seven Lights be upon you, beloved,
Peace of the Seven Joys be upon you, beloved,
Peace of the Seven Loves be upon you, beloved,
On the breast of the Mother of Blessings,
In the arms of the Father of Life.

Gerry Snape said...

Lovely kindly people to remember.

Dawn said...

Nancy sounds like she was a wonderful person and will be remembered in the community for years to come, :-)

Granny Sue said...

That's so sad, Pat. You know, if I could be remembered just some small deed (like making cakes), I'd count my time here on earth well spent. Rest well, Nancy.

Salty Pumpkin Studio said...

Prayers and sympathy to Nancy's family and friends

Midlife Roadtripper said...

Very sad for your loss and the loss to those she has made such a difference. May she live on and on in your thoughts and hearts.

Cro Magnon said...

Being remembered for making good cakes sounds pretty good to me. RIP Nancy.

thelma said...

A gentle soul who did good, she sounds a lovely person to have known....

Linda Metcalf said...

So sorry for your loss of a friend. It sounds as though she was a lovely caring lady. Kind souls will always be remembered.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Nancy had a lot of nieces and nephews but sadly no childres of her own. Thanks for the messages. Sadly there is no one to pass them on to.

Terra said...

Nancy sounds like a dear lady, baking cakes to share and caring for dogs and probably more too. By the way, I had not heard of a hedgehog cake.