Frances Laing (22 Oct 1931 - 18 Dec 2021)

In loving memory of Frances May Laing who sadly passed away onSaturday 18th December 2021, aged 90 years.

Davids Tribute.

Today I come here with you to say a last goodbye to a loving caring mother.

Mum was born in Ockbrook, near Derby on the 22 of October 1931 the only daughter of my grandparents, May and Frank Fretwell. She spent the early years of her life living in Dale Abbey and would often mention the long walk up to Dale Road to catch a bus to Ockbrook School, no cars in them days she’d mention.

Eventually after leaving school she worked as a typist in the offices at Stanton iron works and the family moved to Ilkeston and resided for a time in The Wine Vaults before moving to Andrew Avenue in Larklands, She met my father later and got married on the 8th of September 1955.

A month later along came me in October !!! ….. all I can say is that my Mother really loved my father and he was the love of her life.

My childhood was full of memories some good some sad one of my first memories of my mum was not so good I can’t remember too much because I was really young but she contracted Polio, a debilitating disease that weakened bones and muscles in what was a polio pandemic in the late 50s, I remember vaguely that I when’t to live with my grandparents whilst she was having treatment in the Harlow Wood Hospital near Mansfield. I have some photographs of a visit to the hospital with my mum and grandfather.

I remember the first house my parents bought on Wade Avenue. No luxuries in those days. Coal Fires, Bath tubs, and outside toilets. Young people these days do not know the meaning of cold.

My parents then bought a house on Holmefield crescent in llkeston which was the family home for many years. Mum enjoyed helping my father build this house into a home.

My mum enjoyed holiday times, Camping and then Caravanning all over Devon, Cornwall and Wales, my uncle Ken bought a cottage on the shores of lake Bala in Wales and my mum with my father really enjoyed going there.

In later years mum and dad used to enjoy holidays in Spain and the house slowly became full of Spanish Bric a Brac.

Unfortunately Dennis, my father passed away early in May of 1988 of Cancer at only 58 years of age leaving my mum as a widow for the first time. And the following year May, my grandma, mums mother passed away.

Mum then sold the house on Holmefield Crescent and moved into my Grandmothers Bungalow on Cottage close and with the help of friends eventually got over the death of my father. She retired not long after and did a vast amount of charity work for the guide dogs for the blind with some family friends,

She had adopted my grandmothers two Yorkshire terriers and out dog walking met her second husband. A retired Driving Instructor, Hugh Gilbert Laing, ( Gilbert ), and got married in July of 1991,

With Gilbert mum took many Car trips and hotel holidays and coach trips in Scotland, Gilbert’s place of birth around Stirling. She even flew to South Africa to meet Gilbert’s brother and family who where living out there.

Mum had a vast amount of friends, far to many to mention, from my Dads side of the family and working with the guide dogs.

Sadly my stepdad Gilbert, passed away of bronchial pneumonia in February of 2006 and mum was widowed again.

But she had her ring of good friends and was very able to get out and meet people. And attended many “lunch clubs” and was for a short time an active congregation member of Cotmanhay Parrish church. In which she had many friends.

It was I believe at one of the lunch clubs she met a friend called Ernie and they formed a friendship involving card schools and informal get togethers at the bungalow. And had good relations with Ernie’s Family.

Sadly Ernie passed away in September of 2017, but she kept in touch with some of Ernie’s family, Julie and Micheal.

She leaves me, her Son David a Granddaughter Katie, and Grandson Callum from my former partnership with Tracy who was a good friend. And a daughter in law Doreen and step Granddaughters Sharna and Leanne and great Grand daughter Kailah.

I’d like to thank the residents of Cottage Close with their friendliness and closeness who kept an eye on my mum.

Mum no one can fill the space you have left in our hearts and you will be sadly missed, we will never forget you and we will celebrate a life of love and compassion, and of a life well lived.

Your loving son David.