Jeannette Ann Betteridge (18 Oct 1956 - 25 Jan 2019)

In loving memory of Jeannette Ann Betteridge who sadly passed away on 25th January 2019

Jeannette was born on the 18th October 1954, the second child of Elsie (nee Brewer) and Lionel Kirkaldy and a sister to Lorraine.
They grew up in Blendworth Lane Harefield in Southampton. Jeannette went to Bitterne C of E school in Bitterne and then to Sholing girls’ school. When she left school, she worked in Lilly and Skinner shoe shop in Southampton for a few years where she met Frances who was still a good friend to her all these years later, they always wrote to each other every few months and we had a couple of pub lunches with Frances and Roger last year.
Jeannette then went with Denise to work in a large guest house in Aveton Gifford Kingsbridge Devon. When she returned home after working all summer, she managed to get work at the CO OP in Hedge End.
Having met Jeannette on a blind date on 5th January 1980, we married on 12th September 1981. Jeannette continued to work at the CO OP until our son Stuart James was born. Jeannette stayed at home to bring Stuart up as a fine, polite and caring lad.
Jeannette was a very proud Mum when Stuart & Charlotte married at the Marwell Hotel. We all stayed the night and entered Marwell Park after breakfast and had a very joyous time seeing all the animals.
Jeannette’s speech became slurred about June 2017 and after the whole family telling her to see a Doctor she finally agreed and after several test at Southampton General Hospital she was diagnosed with BULSAR ONSET MOTOR NEURONE DISEASE on 28th November 2017. This was devesting for us all and change our routines and life style.
BULSAR ONSET MOTOR NEURONE DISEASE affected her speech, chewing, and swallowing. She had to eat meals that were almost mashed. Her voice disappeared a few months later and she had to write everything down to communicate, she later was given a keyboard and display where she could type out a message and everyone could read it from the display.
On 12th December 2018 she was rushed into A&E at Southampton General Hospital with Aspirated Pneumonia & recovered with treatment and was transferred on 20th December to the Countess Mountbatten Hospice at West End. Arrangements for Jeannette to return home were taking place but they had to decide how much care she needed at home before it could happen. The Occupational Therapist visited to decide what equipment would be needed at home (Hospital bed, Hoist lift etc.), but sadly the pneumonia returned, and we lost her on 25th January 2019.
My wife, friend and soul mate forever remembered by all who knew her.