Dora Maria Loader (1 Aug 1930 - 10 Dec 2017)

In loving memory of Dora Maria Loader who sadly passed away on 10th December 2017

Dora Maria Loader was born in 1930 in British Honduras, now Belize. She was the second of four siblings, Teodosio, Norma and Glenda, all of whom survive her. At the age of 12, Dora’s childhood ended abruptly with the death of her mother. She and her Grandmother, ChiChi, brought up her younger sisters. Whilst her brother and sisters married and started families, Dora had a successful career and house of her own, working at the American Consulate as a stenographer.

In 1961, Hurricane Hatty hit Belize causing widespread death and damage. She lost her house and all her posessions, but, in all the destruction, Dora found something which would change the course of her life. John Loader was a Sergeant Major in the Royal Hampshire Regiment, sent by the British Government to assist with the ‘clean up’ operation. They fell in love and became engaged.

In 1962, despite the disapproval of some family members and showing great determination and conviction, Dora left the life she knew behind and flew to a very cold Great Britain to marry John. Life couldn’t have been more different, their wedding pictures have snow drifts in the background, she had scarcely ever been cold! She missed speaking Spanish, bananas, and avocados, mangos and cilantro (coriander) and learnt to cook sausages, cabbage and jam roly poly. She was warmly welcomed by her new family, John’s parents, Edna and Leonard and sisters Ann and Valerie. If ever she was homesick, she had the comfort and enduring friendship of her brother-in-law’s sister, Madge van den Brul, living in Suffolk. A friendship spanning every decade of Dora’s life.

In 1963, John junior was born followed the year after by Tracy-Jane.
A happy family life in the military ensued, the Loaders were stationed in Poole, Bulford, Folkestone, Colchester and Brockenhurst in the UK, as well as postings to Germany and Hong Kong. Dora spent long periods alone when John was serving in Cyprus, Borneo, Canada and Northern Ireland.

In 1979, John left the army and they settled, near family, in Portsmouth. They moved again in 1984, when John got a new job in Nottingham. They bought 62 Tavistock Drive, Dora’s pride and joy, which she and John gradually renovated inside and out.

In 1995, at the age of 56, the love of Dora’s life, John, died of cancer. It was a huge shock to her and all the family. Dora’s unshakable faith, the new friends she made at Nottingham Cathedral, her family and her amazing strength of character helped her through.

In 1996, Florence, her first grandchild was born, followed by Matilda in 1998, Alastair and Ambrose in 2001, Angus in 2002 and Isobel in 2003. She was utterly devoted to them all, a wonderful grandmother, full of fun, generosity and kindness and a huge help and support to Jane and Lizzie in bringing them up.

In 2016, four years after being diagnosed with Myeloma, Dora moved to Sudbrook in Lincolnshire to be nearer to Jane.

With Jane’s dedicated and loving care Dora managed to defy predictions and beat the cancer into remission. She was still active and involved with all the family.

She was looking forward to Christmas, and left us, as she arrived in this country, in the cold and snow, after a long, happy and eventful life.