Dorothy Mary Wood (30 Jul 1922 - 26 Jun 2014)

Thinking of you on Mother's Day. I miss chatting to you and father, I miss your milky tea and home made cake, I miss walking in your lovely garden with your beautiful flowers. I miss your gentle voice answering the telephone.
Bright blessings. Petrus. X

Well mum, time has passed and your love is still with me. I am marrying Allen in August, I am happy and loved. Just to tell you, I am making quilts like you did and painting, I am following in your beautiful shadow.

To say Mum accomplished much in her life would, I think, be an understatement. ARP warden, Samaritans counsellor, WI member, MIFA member, family historian and archivist, prize-winning poet, avid reader and gardener, tenacious home-maker, giver of love to Dad and us kids – and all our friends – and guardian of a succession of pets.

There’s not much Mum didn’t turn her hand to – driving a moped, driving a train, skiing, spinning wool, making pottery, making clothes, drawing illustrations, playing the electric organ, tackling word puzzles – and endlessly repairing the things we broke, fixing our cuts and bruises, soothing hurt feelings and bruised spirits.

She would say she was scatty, Spencerian, proud of being a Brummie, proud of being descended from the wild and war-like Gunn clan – but proud most of all, I think, of her family – always complimenting and appreciating our every effort. A hand painted picture for Mum or Nan was as prized as any expensively-purchased gift, making us feel just as prized.

Proud and devoted – devoted to family, friends, neighbours – devoted to her garden and her birds – caring about everyone she met in the circles of her life – concern and gratitude extended with a phone call, a card, a cup of tea, a knitted blanket, a little token quickly wrapped and modestly given.

Impatient sometimes – a half-drunk cup of tea would be whisked away in a quick tidy up, the breakfast laid before nightfall, but her patience could be infinite. She listened, encouraged, and supported – never a word of criticism.

And quick – “Speedy Gonzalez” Dad would say – she made it to the shops long before most cars did, neither Zimmer frame nor rollator slowing her will to get on, to soldier on, to get things done. A problem with the road – she’d be on to the Council, a problem with any of us – and she’d be on phone. And where did she get her energy? She seemed to survive on weak tea, Weetabix and chocolates – Spencer blood she might say.

Religious – religious in sending Christmas and birthday cards, religious in making sure family and neighbours were okay – and religious in her Christian devotion, enjoying both church and Songs of Praise. A good life built on kindness, fresh air, and mince – and a straight back, ramrod straight.

Her armoury in life were the essentials – handbag, knitting bag, shopping list on an old envelope, polos, tissues (one invariably clutched in her hand), blutac, pound coins for taxis, bread for the birds – coat and pearls for best – elegant (she would smile at that) and stationery for all those countless letters.

Gentle, modest, not given to platitudes, though she would readily dismiss the banal as “A load of tripe,” I do remember her saying one thing: A child, roped into cleaning a cottage where we had stayed for a summer holiday in Wales, I must have questioned all the hard work. Mum’s response: “Always leave a place better than you found it.” She did, and we are immensely grateful for that. Thank you, Mum.

(St Alphege’s Church, 16th July 2014)

Dorothy was my first friend when I first moved to Solihull in 2001. With 2 small children (Alex was 3 and Sophie was 6 weeks old), not a day would go by when she wouldn't knock at the door (with her lunchtime vegetable peelings for the rabbits!) to check we were all fine. Her natural cheeriness was infectious and the children loved to rush round after school with samples of cookery and cards for her approval.

Richard, Alex, Sophie and I all consider ourselves truly blessed to have had Dorothy and Jim as our neighbours and friends for so many years. Today was a wonderful celebration of her life and such a fitting tribute to such a wonderful lady.

Say not in grief that she is no more, but say in thankfulness that she was.

It was a pleasure to know Dorothy. She was always very kind and thoughtful and will be greatly missed.
R.I.P. Love and prayers from Angela Keating {Silhill WI}

Today I tried to say farewell to you, my dearest mother. With grief I poured out my heart. How could you leave me? How will I manage without you?
But you haven't gone have you? You will be forever in my heart. In the smiles of my children and grandchildren. In every flower in my garden. In every bird song. And, as you always have done, guiding me in every decision I make.
Thank you to the best of Mums. Xoxo

VWith the sad passing of Dorra she was the last contact with our youth> As children afternoon walking aS A FAMILY TO aUNT eDITH & uNCLE bARRY WE WOULD WALK IN FRONY "LIKE LITTLE SOLDIERS" STAND UP STRAIGHT HANDS out of pockets "Times in Devon at the begining of the wat
r where Dorothy taught at Upton Pyne, were happy days. On coming back from New Zealand She put us all up untill we were settled for which we were very grateful. We will miss a great friend and sister. May she rest in peace.

I miss visiting you Dorothy. You were a lovely kind and caring lady x

I was very sad to hear about Dorothy. Sadly Norah Avenell, my Mum, now has dementia, but she always asked if I had heard any news of Dorothy. I remember fondly when we were children coming to the house on Streetsbrook Road with Mum and Dad and staying over. I shared Angelas bed which was a bit of a squash!! I have a photograph of Rod? and myself at the top of the garden.

Mum will be unable to come to the funeral and I cannot be there on her behalf, but will be thinking of you and fondly remembering Dorothy. Helen

My Dad, Cecil Avenell was a great friend of Jim

It has been a pleasure and a privilege to have known such a kind and interesting lady as Dorothy, not only as a friend but as a valued member of Silhill WI. We shall miss you Dorothy. Rest in peace. With love from Brenda Williams

It is impossible not to love someone who makes chocolate buns with chocolate icing, cooling on the rack when you come home from school. Me aged about 12. Who lights a fire in the grate, before central heating, holding newspaper and blowing, so you can dress in the warm in the winter mornings... who understands 'I have tummy ache' means I want to stay home today with you. And then lets you stay home... and takes you with her to Darlington on the bus to Binns for tea and cake! I am about 6 then, little fancy cakes on a three tier stand. Mum all to myself.
Walking down Apache lane, at Coatham, I am about 7, every evening, and mum pointing out wild flowers, naming birds. 'Meadowsweet' 'Jenny Wren'. How beautiful. Instilling in me an everlasting love of the countryside...
Mum on her moped with a crash helmet driving to me to help when Chris had whooping cough. Rod in his van, and mum, always there when I needed them.
Knitting, sewing, cooking, reading, painting, writing... in the garden pulling weeds, from sun up to sun down...

With mum on W.I. trips to cathedrals, 'must get a postcard for Rod, he loves cathedrals'. Running after mum as she charges round Morrisons grabbing sugar-free groceries for dad, and then bags of sugar-full toffees for herself. Begging her to wait till the car has actually stopped before she jumps out to rush in the house to check dad is okay.

Firing poems and stories at me to type. Ringing me with puzzle entries and massive problems. 'My glasses don't work' 'I can't hear a blessed thing'. Little bags of crusts of bread squirreled away in the basket of her walker for the birds. Mum in her last year. Beautiful and determined. Ready to fly away.

I am so grateful to have made it to England last year to spend time with my Nana and to introduce her to my girls. She was an amazing lady and an inspiration to me. Her memory and spirit will definitely stay with me forever.

Many thanks to Maria and Davide in Japan for their kindness and support, and for their donation to the Lifeboats in loving memory of Mum.