Margaret Ann Billings (17 Jan 1937 - 20 Apr 2019)

In loving memory of Margaret Ann Billings who sadly passed away on 20th April 2019

How do you sum up a life?
I’m sure everyone who knew Margaret has their own memories, we've put some of our own memories together to try to make you smile and to get you started.

Raised in Hatton where she enjoyed where she spent her formative years and made some of her longest standing friends like Jen.
Effectionately known as “Skinny Johnson”, she enjoyed many a dance at the local villages and family holidays with her family.

One of the defining moments in her life were when he beloved mother died after a long illness when Margaret was just 21. It made her strong and reinforced the importance of family in her life.

She had an on/off relationship with Maurice, but always new that he was the one for her. They were to marry in 1961 and spent their early married years saving for a house while living on a caravan site in Findern. Although there wasn’t a lot of money, these times were always remembered fondly and especially the for friendships she formed with the other young couples on the site.

Margaret and Maurice moved to Mill Meadow Way in Etwall and Jackie and Dave arrived soon afterwards. Again, friends played an important part of Margaret’s life during this period. Jackie remembers that there were often friends in the house when she arrived from school with lots of laughter, tea and gossip!

It was at during time that they started the garage in Littleover. How many of you remember Beetle Garage? Although Margaret was busy in the home, she still played an important part in the growth of the business, “doing the books” and often fetching spares from the local VW dealers. Jackie and Dave fondly remember sharing the back seat of her Beetle with spraes being rushed from Burton to Littleover.

Family holidays were important to Margaret as she inherited a love of travel from Tom her father. We all have particularly vivid memories of holidays in Woolacombe with sister Christine and her family. These were happy times, though there would always be some interesting times in the car journey when proper maps were still in use!

Maurice and Margaret went their separate ways in 1982 and this was another defining moment in her life. She tackled it with her usual dignity, courage and determination.
Even during these difficult times, there was laughter in the house and her friends became even more important to her. At this time she found out who her true friends were and this meant a lot to her.

Following the ensuing divorce, Margaret, Jackie and Dave moved to Pendlebury Drive. She was proud that this was her own property and the independence that this bought. It was here that some of the most important family events were to take place;
Marriages, grandchildren, more friends and retirement.

The love of travel acquired from her father led to holidays to Sorrento, Rome, Corsica and many other places that had intrigued her during her schooldays. While she used to say that she hadn’t really been anywhere, when she thought more she would say that she had travelled everywhere she wanted to visit. Her last great trip being to Brunei which she thoroughly enjoyed.

This was a home which she did not want to leave, even when the debilitating COPD made it difficult for her to get around with the same vigour of old.
Margaret always considered herself to be a “cat person”, however, she was firmly to become a “dog lover”. She was regularly to be seen walking first Sandy and later Louis and met many more interesting friends and acquaintances during this time.

Fiercely independent, she could be her family’s fiercest critic but most ardent supporter. She tackled everything with humour, often sarcasm and a ready wit.

She will be sadly missed but forever in our hearts.