Pamela Glenister (1 Dec 1936 - 22 Oct 2022)

In loving memory of Pamela Glenister who sadly passed away on 22nd October 2022
We have just posted the Eulogy that Barny, the celebrant read today at my mum’s funeral.
Thank you all so much for coming and sharing her farewell with us.

We are here today to honour the memory of Pamela Glenister, she
was a loving wife, mother, aunt, grandmother and best friend.

Celebrating the life of Pamela will allow us to recount some of our
favourite memories with her –these memories will trigger all sorts of
emotions throughout the course of the day, there will be tears of
sadness, but through these tears Pamela would also want smiles as
we look back with happiness on the time that she spent with us.
Born in South Darenth, Kent to loving parents Mary & Leonard
Brooks on the 1st December 1936, Pamela was the second child in
the family after her elder brother David.
She was evacuated during WWII to Merthyr Tydfil to stay with her
Grandmother where she attended the local schools, learning the
lyrical language and even in her latter years, Pamela never forgot
the welsh she had learned as a child. She was quick to recite the
welsh versions of Happy Birthday and Jack & Jill, much to the
amusement of those around her.
Upon returning to London and completing her education, Pamela
joined the General Post Office as a telephonist and it was while at
the GPO that her life would change forever. She met a dashing
young man, Bernard Glenister.
On the 23rd May 1959 Pamela married Bernard and they were
united as Mr & Mrs Glenister.
The happy couple wasted little time starting their own family with
the arrivals of Karen, Michelle and a few years later, Victoria. The
girls were the apples of their parents’ eyes and family life was busy
and happy.
One special memory were the holidays to Bexhill with Pat, her
sister-in- law, niece and nephew. These holidays were a staple of
the summers and were full of laughter with all the cousins agreeing
they were some of the happiest times.
In her spare time Pamela sought a creative outlet for her boundless
energy and joined the local drama group in Meopham ‘The
Breakaways’ performing in numerous theatrical performances. She
went to evening classes and learnt cake decorating and was soon
making beautiful wedding cakes (she even made all three of the
girls wedding cakes!)
And it was while living in Meopham, that Pamela met her best
friend, Joyce. They remained friends for almost 60 years.
She was also quite an impulsive woman and loved to tell everyone
the tale that she once came home with a horse called Timmy
Rockashanto, something which infuriated her father. She used to
laugh whenever she told the story, even when recounting that he
didn’t speak to her for a week after Timmy’s arrival!
When the children were older and the girls were busy with their own
lives and Pamela and Bernard had more time to themselves, they
developed a real passion for traveling and thought nothing of
exploring the jungles of Borneo to view the Orangutans or
experiencing safaris in South Africa. They travelled the east coast of
Australia and explored many of the quieter Greek Islands.
Pamela, who loved to keep busy, was driven by an infectious zest
for life, but it was family that was her main passion. She doted on all
her grandchildren (William, Edward, Sacha and Olivia) and when
Michelle married Nick, Pamela welcomed him as her son-in-law
along with Will, Joe, Josh ( her step children ) into the family fold.
This love for her family was ever-present, and when her first
grandchild, William was born Michelle can remember her smiling
and saying “You think you give all your love to your children and
then you realise you have more love to give”. What a fabulous
sentiment that is.
Pamela would always prioritise visiting her daughters and looking
after her grandchildren. She would stay with Victoria in Chicago
taking care of her granddaughters there and would hurry down to
Surrey to babysit Michelle’s children while she was away at work.
She loved those special times with them. Without fail, she would
also find time to visit Karen who was living in Paris, later helping her
run her café in Wimborne. Pamela was always there helping
everyone with her familiar willingness to get involved.
You see it’s those memories that build a special kind of bridge when
loved ones have to part – it’s those memories that help us feel we're
with them still and it’s those memories that soothe our pain and
grief.
Our memories span the years we shared, preserving ties of love
and bring us peace of mind. And so today, we will remember
Pamela and all that made her special to us.
Those we love, live forever in our memories and so are never more
than a heartbeat away. We know that the light of the most distant
star continues to reach the earth long after the star itself has gone
out, and so Pamela‘s light and love will continue to shine in your
hearts. This light never goes out, because love lives, in our hearts
and love never dies.
We are here to celebrate the life of Pamela Glenister.
Let us remember her life with gratitude, joy, gladness and love.