Maureen Barbara Hards (22 Aug 1945 - 20 Oct 2016)

In loving memory of Maureen Barbara Hards who sadly passed away on 20th October 2016.

Floral tributes may be sent c/o John Weir Funeral Directors, 25, New Road, Chatham.Kent. ME4 4QJ BY 12 noon on Monday 7th November.

When I think back to my early years all I can remember is mum working hard non stop. She did this to feed us, clothe us, educate us and to give us some amazing Christmases and Birthdays. When I think back I cant remember a time when she said no. She was probably the most unselfish woman I've ever known.

From an early age mum would take us fruit picking to Mr Wooldridges or Mr Lowes farms. I can remember the bucket type things we would have round our necks to collect apples ( We called them apple catchers and now this is the term used for giant knickers!! I still find it funny ) and days spent scoffing more Strawberries than we picked. We used to stick apples to the end of sticks and send them flying for miles! If only Dragons Den was around in the 80's!!

We grew up in Hadlow and were surrounded by so many amazing people. All of our cousins and best friends have since written to me to say how kind mum was to everyone while growing up in the village.

At one stage mum worked on a butchers round delivering meat. She would play her cassettes of Buddy Holly, Charlie Pride, lots of country and western and 50's mostly. Within a few years the kids knew every word to every song she played!

Sadly mum and dad split up when I joined the RAF and mum moved away to Medway. Every month mum would send me what work colleagues would call "Sweetie Parcels" - It was basically a shoe box packed full of mars bars, milky ways, smartest etc. etc. I would share ( a few ) with friends at work but mostly just scoff the lot. She sent them all over the world when I was in Germany and the Falklands. I dread to think of the cost but nothing was too much for her.

Christmas was so special at our house, in the early years we would make our own paper chains but since then mum has gradually built up an enormous amount of decorations. Every one MUST go up even when there is barely 2 inches of space left on the ceiling! It was probably an eyesore but the kids and visitors used to love it. The Christmas tree used to have so many presents under it and we would each have a giant sack full of toys - Every year we would all receive a selection box. We still received one last year at 49 years of age! haha.

It wasn't just the 4 kids she doted on, mum has many Grandchildren and 2 Great Grandchildren whom she would spoil rotten whenever she could.