Marion Jones (28 Jul 1943 - 18 Nov 2022)

Wherever a beautiful soul has been, there is a trail of beautiful memories.

In loving memory of Marion Jones who passed away peacefully on 18th November 2022.

-----------------------------------------------------------

A Celebration of Life

For Marion Elizabeth Jones

28th July 1943 – 18th November 2022

Surrey & Sussex Crematorium
Memorial Chapel
Friday, 9th December 2022

Entry: Just The Way You Are – Billy Joel

Good morning everyone, (please be seated)

My name is Julia, and it is a privilege to welcome you here on behalf of Marion’s daughters Sarah and Nancy as we take time to honour and remember the journeys we have shared with Marion.
And on their behalf, thank you for sharing in this time together with them, and also for the love and kindness you have shared both during Marion’s illness and especially now, as everyone tries to adjust to the different but no less important place that she holds in this community of family and friends.

Today we think too on those who have not been able to join us, though we know they are joining us in spirit – like dear friends of 60 years Rick and Karen; and also Ann, Brenda and Miriam.

Marion was quite a private lady in truth, she was also strong, fit and liked to keep active, she was a stoic lady who faced those challenges with grace and dignity, had we not known any better, we would never have thought she was facing any …

But that being said, today we acknowledge too the NHS teams that assisted her – the District Nurses central to Marion’s care and ability to live as full a life as possible and also the those at East Surrey Hospital – throughout the support offered was invaluable.

As a family you would also rally around to ensure Marion had all she needed, thank you – especially to Nancy’s husband John for all he has done, and to Sarah’s partner Andy and daughter Sophie who held the fort back at home for her.

We know there is never the right time to say farewell to the people we love, and when like Marion they have been such a vital part of our lives it is even more so.
That being said, as we reflect on Marion’s life spanning a remarkable 79 years, we are grateful for all we have been blessed to share with her, all the experiences shared, and the wonderful memories and stories that will ensure she remains at the core of this family always.

Because at the heart of it all, was Marion’s family who she was so thrilled to see grow by two generations, the perfect way to begin before we revisit Marion’s story is to welcome up her Granddaughter Emily as she shares the beautiful poem chosen by the family for today…

She Is Gone – David Harkins
Read By Granddaughter Emily

You can shed tears that she is gone
Or you can smile because she has lived
You can close your eyes and pray that she’ll come back
Or you can open your eyes and see all that she’s left
Your heart can be empty because you can’t see her
Or your heart can be full of the time you shared
You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday
Or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday
You can remember her and only that she’s gone
Or you can cherish her memory and let it live on
You can cry and close your mind,
be empty and turn your back
Or you can do what she’d want:
smile, open your eyes, love and go on.

Thank you Emily,

Marion gave a great deal of consideration to what music she would like for today, and so now, honouring those wishes, let us stand as we join together singing the first of our hymns for today …

Hymn: Amazing Grace (Wesley Choral)

Thank you everyone, please be seated.

And so we take a step back in time to 1943, a vastly different era … the Second World War was still ongoing, affecting the lives of people from all walks of life … it was not the easiest of times … and yet being a resilient nation we would find home and joy, bringing encouragement in an uncertain world …
And none more so than in the Ivy household in Upminster, situated in the Borough of Havering, London where Olive and John would welcome the birth of their beautiful baby girl on 28th July, naming her Marion Elizabeth.
Marion mostly grew up in and around Bexley attending at the Girls Grammar School, where due to her tall willowy frame she wasn’t particularly suited to sporting activities, but she was very arty, and was known for constantly having her nose in a book (sometimes even snuggling under the covers with a torch to continue reading after she was supposed to be sleeping)

Given her love of art, Marion would have liked to pursue this interest, but her father John suggested that secretarial skills might stand her in better stead as she prepared to enter the workplace.
With her education completed Marion found employment with Pearl Insurance who were based in the London business district.

When she was just 13 years of age, Marion had met a young lad by the name of David Jones at the youth club in Bexley and with the passage of time the friendship between them would blossom to romance, and so when she was 19 years old they married at The Holy Cross Church in Bearsted, Kent on 23rd March 1963.
The service was followed by a lovely reception in a local hotel, and they honeymooned in Jersey. Returned home they settled into married life and moved to Banbury through David’s work. Marion was able to transfer to the Banbury branch of Pearl Insurance.

David was always quite an explorer and so in the late 1960’s they embarked on an adventure, moving to South Africa when he secured employment with Nissan, the car producers in Johannesburg.
Marion would work for the South African Egg Co-operative and various other secretarial roles during their time there until, in 1971 they were thrilled when their first daughter Sarah was born, and then they decided it was time to come home to England for a bit.

They were equally pleased when their family grew by one more with the birth of their daughter Nancy in 1974. A year later they decided to return to South Africa, this time settling in Kloof, situated just outside Durban.
One of Marion’s most interesting and stimulating work roles was working for a gentleman called Mr Lanier who ran a shipping company … she loved the challenges that this role provided.

While David travelled for work Marion would run the home whilst continuing to work so it was not always easy. Marion was a firm but fair mum, right down to measuring out egg cups of condensed milk for Sarah and Nancy as a treat 😊
Speaking of which their mum was a good wholesome cook, and her chicken liver pate and lemon tart were just the best ever!
The girls had their responsibilities of cleaning their rooms and more – valuable skills for life no doubt but more importantly they hold dear precious memories of wonderful birthday parties, and how the family would enjoy holidays back in England and afar
There were dress up parties, and again through David’s work they had access to San Lameer and Mabula Lodge so there were coast trips and safaris – wonderful little getaways creating even more memories.
Whilst she was the first to set boundaries, Marion was a constant presence and Sarah and Nancy, in spite of their very different personalities, knew they could turn to their mum for wise counsel and support – no matter what – something which would continue throughout their lives.

Of course she was a lady of strong opinions, but this was balanced by a tolerant and non-judgemental nature; they were exposed to many different cultures with holidays also taken in Rio, Amsterdam, and even Disney World in Florida.
They also often went to get-togethers organised by the Vintage Car Club in Kloof almost every weekend (this due to David’s love of vintage cars and he owned a Ford Model T). They would take on home renovations too, but once completed they would move on to the next home and project.

She was always a very hardworking lady, and was never one for sitting at home doing nothing – that was for sure! Unfortunately when he was just 49 years old, David was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease, and this would play a part in family life with him becoming a founder member of the Durban Parkinson’s Support Group – a role which Marion would support him in wholeheartedly.

The 1990’s saw the family return to England – first was Sarah in 1992, followed by Nancy in 1996 and then Marion and David who settled in High Peaks Derbyshire, in Chapel where they lived in an apartment in a converted Mill.

In 1999 David’s next work contract took them to Bangkok for four years. They briefly returned to England before retiring to Cyprus fulfilling their dream of building their own home – an old stone cottage called “The Courtyard”.

They spent almost seven magical years there, they loved their home, the sunshine, the lifestyle and many wonderful friendships made … however with David’s Parkinson’s progressing in 2012 they decided to return home to England for the final time settling in a retirement complex in Reigate.
Marion and David were so pleased to be near their family, and were thrilled to be spending time with their granddaughters Sophia who had been born in 2000 and Emily who was born in 2009.

Nanny and Oupa would sometimes babysit, but nothing was better than family get-togethers for special occasions. Marion and Emily shared an interest in art, and Sophia loved chatting with her Nanny about different political topics.

Sadly in 2015 David passed away, and it was a difficult adjustment coming to terms with life without her soulmate, but never once in all those years as the challenges through Parkinson’s increased did Marion waver in her love, devotion and care – she selflessly lived the vows she had taken so many years before and was a true inspiration to everyone that knew and loved them. Theirs remains a truly incredible love story.

With the care and support of her family and friends, Marion would find a new normal though, and continued with her many and varied interests; travel of course still featured going on many trips with the family to places like Croatia, Prague for the Christmas Markets, return visits to Cyprus and Cape Town, South Africa where the less said about food poisoning the better – isn’t that right John …

Locally she and Sarah would take road trips – Norfolk, Great Yarmouth, Diss, Somersby, Haling Island, Portsmouth, Marion loved attending Sarah’s 50th birthday celebrations in a barn conversion in Lewes. This year in February Nancy joined in the road trip, so the three musketeers headed off to Bury St Edmonds and in May she and Nancy went to the Cotswolds …

Of course today would not be complete either if we did not touch on all the interests that brought Marion joy through the years … she never lost her love of art – she even joined an outdoor art club In the UK, but she didn’t like the wet weather 😊 … she did pottery In SA, and no matter where home was she had a certain flair, an eye for balance and beauty – in many ways she had a gift for interior design before it even became popular.
Also although in many ways she and David had a somewhat nomadic lifestyle with all their travels, Marion loved gardening and again would create beautiful spaces – needless to say she rather enjoyed a nice visit to garden centres.

Marion always enjoyed playing bridge both in person in Cyprus and more recently online too; at U3A she belonged to the Scrabble and Gardening Clubs and liked to attend historical talks. Marion loved to visit National Trust homes and gardens, and Wisley too.

Back at home there was nothing better than a good book – Marion was an avid reader of… John Le Carre, Victoria Hyslop, Jodi Picoult … and more, she loved a visit to the library and if truth be told she was not too sure what all the fuss was about when it came to Kindles – she wasn’t mad on those 😊

There was a time and place for music and television … she enjoyed watching Wimbledon, and more recently liked Strictly, and programs like Escape to the country, or Homes Under the Hammer watched with Nancy, and she binge-watched Dinner Ladies with Sarah 😊

Of course we know that we could never capture every aspect to Marion’s life in the fleeting time we have here, but as we sing our second hymn for today, let your thoughts turn to your own precious memories … we are most appropriately going to sing All things bright and beautiful … if you are able will you please stand.

Hymn: All Things Bright & Beautiful (Wesley Choral)

Thank you everyone, please be seated.

No matter where Marion went, she had the extraordinary capability to touch the lives of those she met, no matter how brief the exchange, and it has brought Sarah, Nancy and all the family immense comfort knowing that people recognised the unique and beautiful soul that was, still is their Mum.
Marion always felt that she had a full life, an amazing life, she felt lucky and blessed to have experienced all that she did– and when we reflect on her life spanning 79 magical trips around our sun, we know that we could not have asked for more – that we truly are the lucky ones to have shared in the narrative that is Marion’s story.

And so whilst we are heartbroken at having to say this farewell, it is with grateful thanks that we celebrate Marion’s life.

Let us take a moment now as we join together saying The Lord’s Prayer.

Thank you everyone, if you are able, will you all please be upstanding

Farewell
It is with the greatest love and respect that
we say farewell to you Marion,
and we thank you for every gift
you have brought to our lives.
We thank you for your strength of character,
and for being our face of reassurance
in times of difficulty.
We thank you for your understanding, compassion
And unwavering support,
for your dedication and devotion to your family.
We thank you for your determination
to be the best you could be.
We thank you for your wonderful humour,
your bright smiles,
and all the times you made us laugh.
Thank you for the magic you wove through our lives,
for your level headed and practical ways,
your enthusiasm and optimism.
But most of all we thank you for
your love and for your friendship;
for the time and effort you put into our lives,
for your kind thoughts and deeds,
your cuddles and care,
and for your gentle, humble heart.

May you rest in peace knowing that you were, are,
and will always be, dearly loved
Rest gently Marion now at your journey’s end

Thank you, please be seated.

And so it remain to thank you all once again for sharing in this time as family and friends and on behalf of Sarah, Nancy and the family a warm invitation to you all to join together once again at Alexander House in Turners Hill for a time of continued reminiscing over light refreshments.

As we make our way, may you find comfort in the company of those you love, may time ease your sorrow, and cherished memories of Marion never fail to bring a smile.

And may your travels be safe and your health be good, today and every day of your onward journeys in life.

Exit: Wind Beneath My Wings – Bette Midler