Gladys Dennis (20 Jul 1923 - 25 Apr 2020)
In loving memory of Gladys Dennis who sadly passed away on Saturday 25th April 2020, aged 96 years.
Gladys was born in Pontefract on 20th July 1923. The family soon moved to Northern Ireland where her father found work as the caretaker to the unoccupied Kilwaughter Castle, the family living in the small gatehouse. Money was scarce and the house crowded as the family grew, but there was plenty of room to play and explore outside with her one sister and three brothers, and she was very happy.
Her Aunt and Uncle would go to visit and sometimes take Gladys or her sister Rene back to stay with them in London for holidays. Eventually Aunty and Uncle “chose” Gladys and aged 6 she was formally adopted and brought to live in Bow East London. This was a very traumatic experience for such a young child, and in her later years when she often imagined herself back in Ireland she would ask “What kind of mother gives her child away?
Aunty was very strict, Gladys was not allowed out to play with friends except to the local Baptist mission, and she would sometimes say she was going to a meeting at the chapel but slip away to meet a friend.
She was not allowed to sit her 11plus as Aunty thought educating girls was a waste of time, and left school at 14 to work as a machinist in a dress factory. The Outbreak of WW2 gave her a way to escape and as soon as possible she enlisted in the ATS. Aunty was not pleased but there was nothing she could do.
Gladys was stationed with the Anti Aircraft guns, tracking the enemy aircraft and in theory at least training the gun barrel onto the target. It was here that she met Bombadier Gordon (Den)Dennis, and somehow they managed to stay together through several postings, someone in authority must have approved of the match.
In the final months of the war they married, Den having been granted a 48 hour pass!
David was born in November and Angela ( Mum hated “Ange” and soon decreed that if people insisted on shortening Angela it would be Anna) 2 years later
The family was back in Bow just round the corner from Aunty and Uncle and when Den was demobbed he went back to his work as a bricklayer.
When the children were still young the family moved to Forest Gate, in West Ham. Gladys now had a proper garden, she loved gardening, and occasionally worked part time in a local dress factory. Although not a church goer she joined the “Young Wives” at the Methodist Church at the end of the road. Here she made many friends and could often be found serving the drinks at the Saturday coffee morning. It was one of her friends who suggested she join her working part time in a lampshade factory, and she enjoyed her couple of afternoons a week chatting and packing lamps and lampshades.
David and Anna left home but soon there were grandchildren to fuss over, Andrew, Nina, Simon and Ruth. And when Anna and Ray moved up to Mickelover Mum and Dad would often come up for weekends to visit.
Den's arthritic knees eventually made his work difficult so he took early retirement and they came to live in Mickleover. Mum loved her “Little House” for the first time in her life she was not sharing a house with another family and she could “Go upstairs to bed!”
Anyone who knocked at the door, including the Jehovah's Witnesses would be given a conducted tour!
Mum and Dad went out exploring all over Derbyshire, often finding out of the way pubs to stop for lunch, they enjoyed walking both in the Dales and around Mickleover. Mum discovered acrylic paints and would copy pictures from postcards or magazines. She now had 2 gardens, front and back, she made curtains and cushions for the house and she volunteered once a week at the Age Concern shop in the village.
She enjoyed the company of her grandchildren and then eventually 10 great grandchildren although in latter years she had difficulty remembering who they were and would often insist that she was not old enough to have grandchildren let alone great grandchildren.
The whole family got together for her Golden and Diamond wedding anniversaries and then her 90th birthday but by now she was struggling with dementia.
She became more and more dependant on Dad and for several years he concealed just how bad she was. When he had a bad fall it was clear that they could no longer cope and we found them a home at Derby Heights Care home. Mum always thought it was a holiday in a posh hotel and every night she would leave her room and climb into bed with Den. Sadly Dad died soon after and Mum could never understand why he was not there. She would constantly ask “Where's Den” and the staff became very creative in their answers which might satisfy her at least for a few minutes.
Over the past few years she deteriorated both mentally and physically until she finally caught the Covid 19 virus at the beginning of April. Sadly we were not able to visit during her final weeks but we know she was well looked after and loved, and she is finally reunited with her beloved Den.
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Thinking of you all today Anna and Ray
Love Linda and John xx
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We remember Gladys as uplifting, inspiring and funny even in her darkest times.
She will be missed.
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Lovely drawings Joel you have captured her beautifully
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I knew Anna's mum when Anna and I were growing up in Girl's Brigade together. She often served the tea on Saturday morning at the the Methodist Church. But my favourite memory was when Anna and I were heading off for a weeks G.B. camp with the rest of the company and her mum handed me a can of oil and asked me to tighten and oil Anna's screws. The comment encompasses her humour and her way of coping with difficult situations. Anna and Ray have been a wonderful support for her Mum and until a few years ago her Dad. Thinking of you both and the rest of the family at this very difficult time.
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Memories of mum inevitably start with recent times, the weekly visits to Derby Heights seeing mum as always, well dressed, there but not really there, attentive but not really appreciating what we would tell or show her. It was sad seeing the slow but steady decline as time passed, and although we would read the Daily Sparkle, try to tell humorous stories, sing songs that we could remember, the impact was so temporary we wondered what we had truly achieved.
But that was not the real Gladys, for nearly 50 years she was my other mum, properly mother-in-law, but we never had the “battle” as the humourists would portray the relationship. I new mum before I married Anna and we always got on surprisingly really well. We shared a similar sense of humour and enjoyed the simple things of life like crossword puzzles and jig-saws. Mum also read a lot and had library books stacked by her chair, the house was always spotless with no obvious clutter.
Mum and dad were inseparable, and between them, I could not ask for more in the way that they were grand-parents to our pair.
Mum is no longer with us, but there are so many objects around the house that remind us of her, be it her paintings, decorated eggs, little knick-knacks etc. Not forgetting the picture of mum and dad on the stair-wall. Both mum and dad will remain part of our life.
My last memory of mum was when we left the home on the final occasion, being seated for lunch we had said good-bye and she would sit with almost childlike smile and with her fingers gave a simple wave.
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Happy memories
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Happy memories
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To Ruth,Simon, and families.I 'm sorry my arms are not long enough to reach you, and couldn't even if you were near enough in the current situation.
Please take a virtual hug as we remember your Nana on Thursday,and as one chapter of the book comes to the end, another one will surely begin.
I know she was very proud of her family and that love will continue in you. Love Jill
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Both of my grandmothers died when I was younger so I didn't really talk to them, Gladys filled the space for me.
Smiley, funny, down to earth, straight-talking, great cuddles, a wicked sense of humour!
x
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Sorry for your loss I will always remember your mum as being a very cheerful, witty and very smart lady
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Sorry to hear of your loss I will always remember Gladys as a very smart witty lady
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Dear Anna and David
My memories of your Mum go back to Forest Gate days when we lived in the same road, and my Mum was a member of the same Young Wives group at the Methodist Church. A particular memory I have is of walking up to your home on several occasions to be measured for an outfit, for a fitting, or with a dress in hand to be altered (not usually taken in!!!).
We moved away after we got married and our next contact was nearly 40 years later when we visited your Mum and Dad in their home in Mickleover, whilst house hunting in the Derby area. As others have said your Mum still had the same smile, but, thankfully, on that occasion she had no pins or tape measure in hand!!
Malcolm and I are thinking of you and praying for you at this difficult time and would like to join you on line at the service.
Colleen
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Pushing Anna and Me around in the wicker carriage!
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Remembering Gladys with fondness, particularly her sense of fun and naughty side,even through her dementia. Singing old songs at the top of her voice while we walked down the corridor at the hospital when we went to see Den ,and laughing at 'rude' plants in the garden centre. We will always think of her as the person she was, and not who she had become.So from your bossy friend. God bless you and all you have been.
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I love that everyone remembers the naughtiness!
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Naughty side of Nan...I think you and I inherited it Roo xx
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Cannot find the attendance tab, but rest assured we intend being present.
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Anna and David. My thoughts are with you both at this time, May your Mum and Dad now be together again resting n peace. I remember them both with fond memories. Ken
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We will remember you fondly Gladys, especially the naughty bits which made us laugh.
Singing war time songs down the corridor of the hospital when visiting Den !! We think of you as you were and not what you had become.
God Bless.
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God bless Gladys, have a peaceful journey . Maybe we will meet again someday.
Vivienne.xx
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This is too difficult to write.
Love you Mum
Rest in peace. David xx
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Richard remembers a shared love of art with Gladys. In fact she donated some old tubes of oil paint to Richard. We remember Gladys & Den when on their daily walk they would sometimes pass our house and have a chat.
Pam & Richard
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Pushing Anna and Me around in the wicker carriage!
Meeting Matthew at her 80th Birthday 2003.
One of my last photos with Nan. I love how she still kept her mischievous twinkle. That day she was wondering how you cut your toenails if you were invisible. We never decided. I’ll miss her.
20th january 1945
June 1992
19/04/1992
Golden Wedding
Chester and Nanny 18/04/13
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