Lilian (Lil) Rose Barber (1 Sep 1931 - 15 Apr 2020)

In loving memory of Lilian Rose Barber who sadly passed away on 15th April 2020.

Mum was born in Bermondsey in London in 1931, the eldest of five. After the outbreak of the Second World War she was evacuated to Cornwall and then evacuated for a second time to Pershore in Worcestershire in 1944; she spoke fondly of both places, as well as of hop picking down in Kent in the intervening years. Following the war, she worked at various locations including Peak Freans and Hartley Cooper in London. She met Dad in the 1950s at a dance and remembered that she had a heavy cold at the time but remarked on Dad's dancing skills (sadly this ability wasn't passed genetically down the line).

Mum and Dad married in 1958 and Mark was born in the late 60s. Following a move to Ditton, Jamie came along in 1973 and Mum divided her time between looking after us all and working at various offices including Trebor Bassett - the confectionery factory fondly remembered for giving out giant bags of sweets to all workers every Friday! We also look back with happy memories at the annual caravan holidays down to Dymchurch when we would save up 1ps and 2ps all year to spend on the Penny Falls in the amusement arcade. Following some years working at B&Q where Mum loved offering gardening advice to customers from the tills, both Mum and Dad retired in 1991. Dad hadn't been well for some years and passed away in 1996, which left a big hole in all of our lives.

Jamie lived in various places and finally settled down in London and then Oxford with Katy. In her own words, Mum was like 'a dog with two tails' when her first grandchild Laurie was born in 2009, followed by Elin (who shares Mum's middle name) in 2012. Mark continues to look after the family house in Ditton.

In her later years, Mum sadly suffered from dementia and mobility problems, and was looked after with friendliness and compassion by the nursing team at the Maidstone Care Centre on Boxley Road, who we are very grateful to. They remarked that she always had a smile for them and for visitors, and those who knew Mum will remember that she had a very active sense of humour and loved a good laugh. In earlier years, she enjoyed get-togethers with the large extended family and watching all of the new additions growing up. As you will know, she also had a prodigious sweet tooth, so we hope that you will remember her with a cup of tea and a Cherry Bakewell (just don't forget to put sugar in the tea, whatever you do!).

While her passing is not wholly unexpected, it was (and still is) incredibly sad, but we hope that you will remember Mum from happier times. During the current lockdown, the service at Vinters Park Crematorium on 30th April at 11.45am will be immediate family only. However, if you would like to watch a video link either 'live' or after the service, the details are:

https://www.wesleymedia.co.uk/webcast-view
Login / Order ID: 25025
Password: yjybfcew

We hope you are all keeping safe

Love

Jamie, Mark, Katy, Laurie and Elin

xxxx