Barbara Mary Dexter (10 Mar 1928 - 17 Nov 2019)

In loving memory of Barbara Mary Dexter who sadly passed away on 17th November 2019. Mum lived her life helping and caring for others. Her family were everything to her. Rod, her girls and grandchildren gave her joy. She believed in keeping family and extended family links and even pursued this contact with increasingly distant family in America for as long as she was able, She had many friends, some who who had been in her life for decades and many more who she had formed bonds with throughout her long life. These were friends from her Church, school, neighbours, work colleagues, people she met whilst pursuing her many hobbies or through her dogs. It was always important to her that she kept in touch with her friends and would be there for a mutually agreeable chat by phone or by racing to assist if she felt anyone needed support in any way. Barbara touched the lives of many people and certainly made her mark on the world which she inhabited over her 92 years. It is a testament to her that although she had lost many friends and family over the years there were still so many to inform of her passing. She passed on 17th November, the same day as her daughter, Christina, some 29 years ago. Let us take this of a sign that at last Christina had reached out a hand and said 'Come on Mum, you have done enough. Leave them to take care of themselves now, you have done enough. Your work is done. Love you Mum,

Absolutely sure now we have chosen the right charity to support - Altzheimers Research UK or ARUK. Going into Oxford today to buy a display book for all the photographs we would like to share, which cannot be accommodated on the boards, I was dumbfounded to find, in the middle of the shopping mall, a stand collecting for this very charity. They explained that they are far less well known than The Alzheimers Society or Dementia UK but they're in the business of putting the other two out of business. Those charities offer support and help in the face of a demential diagnosis. Our chosen charity is aiming to eradicate dementia and fund relevant research in this ongoing fight. He explained It is an illness although not recognised as a medical illness and therefore sufferers are not automatically provided with free NHS care. It is left to the Social Services, which is why many people are facing this life changing diagnosis and the worry of self funding as the needs increase. The youngest demential sufferer in the UK is 23 years old. It is not confined in any way to the elderly. Considering our funeral organiser, Alan, had never heard of ARUK and neither had we, I found it an incredibly timely coincidence that this charity should have chosen the day I visited Oxford to set up their stall. So if anyone would like to support this small, but vital charity in the fight to end demential please do so by 'lighting a candle' for Mum. With all our love and thanks.

Elaine and Alison.