Gladys Round (17 Aug 1929 - 5 Oct 2017)

In loving memory of Gladys Round who sadly passed away on 5th October 2017

We are very lucky to have had the privilege of knowing Joyce, and to be able remember her and celebrate her life. She was warm, kind, and gentle; always ready to lend a hand. Without a shadow of doubt, she enriched a lot of lives.

Joyce had a happy and loving Childhood, with her father, Mother and brother Geoff. Her parents were always trying to make life better. Her family was the first in the street to have a car, and the first to have a radio (which her father built). Much later he built a house in Whitecrest. But her childhood, like so many others, was cut short by the war and she sometimes talked about sleeping in an air raid shelter in the garden with her mother, listening to bombing and worrying about her Dad and Geoff not being with them.

I think that her childhood experiences shaped her approach to life, in two ways. Firstly, she always valued family. She was a loving mother to Chris and myself, always putting us first. She loved her Grand children and, it has to be said, that after having two sons and 5 grandsons the arrival of Stella was something special; she always had a special place in her heart for her Grand-Daughter. She loved nothing more than to get the family together. I’m sure many of you will have happy memories of Christmas Day or Boxing night parties, summer barbecues, and for Chris an myself family summer holidays.
Secondly, however bad things got, and sitting in air raids for 3 years has to be as bad as it gets, she never complained; she just got on with life, and working hard to make things better for our family.

Joyce met Fred at a dance West Bromwich when she was 21. Dancing, particularly to big band music like the Glenn Miller tune we heard a little while ago, was where they began their relationship and was always a favourite for both of them. They really were soul mates; in fact, I don’t think Mum ever thought of herself as Joyce, I think she thought of herself (and would want to be remembered) as one half of team “Joyce and Fred”.

With the help of both Joyce and Fred’s family they achieved a lot together. They built a house and a home together. They had a family together. They ran a business together. Their marriage even survived Fred building a boat; Joyce was really not very keen! When there were problems, which there were, they quietly worked them out together and just got on with it.

When Fred was taken ill, and quickly passed away over 22 years ago it hit Mum hard. She was devastated and heartbroken. But, true to form, she never gave up. She tried to make the best of it. Staying at Bird End, re-connecting with old friends and particularly building new friendships at the Moose dance. Now Mum and Dad will be together again when her ashes join his and Geoff’s on the May plot here at the Crematorium.

Being diagnosed with Alzheimers in 2012 was a big set-back for Mum. She always remained independently minded, but as time went on she needed ever-increasing help. On her behalf, I would like to thank some of the many people who helped her to make the most of it.

Firstly, I would like to thank her friends and neighbours that became her support network at Bird End: Janet & Pete, Ron, Colin and many others. She was alone there for a long time. Laterly, pleasures as simple as walking the dog around Bird End every night were important to her. Without all of you her life would have been very different.

Secondly, I would like to thank the carers from Sandwell, and later at Seagrave. Without exception, these wonderful people treated her with respect, gave her dignity, and almost all became friends.

Finally, I would like to thank my wife, Sue, and her brother and sister in-law, Frank and Dot. Between them they spent a huge amount of time with Joyce when she was at Seagrave, making sure that she was comfortable and happy. I could always tell when Dot had been, because there was a lovely bunch of flowers in her room. All that made a difference.

Thank you all.