Mum/Kate/Grandma.

It is with deep sadness I 'put pen to paper' and write this posting.
Although it is part of the cycle of life, none of us relish the task of realizing that our parents have died. I have heard it said, one never fully comes to terms with not having someone like a parent to turn to for advice. This however, is the case for me and my family this week.
Our mother. mother-in-law, grandma and great grandma, died on Wednesday morning. She had had a stroke in October last year, and recently had been rapidly declining.It is a blessed release for her, and no one would wish her to be kept alive by artificial means. She certainly did not want that.
Mum was a brilliant academic/scholar, and had several degrees. She was also a teacher. She started training as a Primary school teacher when her youngest child started school. She did it all by correspondence while looking after a family and helping on the farm.
She was transferred to Bordertown Primary School, where she taught for many years. She had resigned from teaching when she was approached to fill in at the local high school a few times. The Principal obviously realized she had great talent, and she finished up teaching full time at the high school. This led to her needing extra qualifications, and she started a Bachelor of Arts degree, again by correspondence, while still looking after a family and the farm with Dad.
She and her youngest child moved to Adelaide in 1970 and mum taught part time and finished her degree with part time study at Uni.
Mum had served in the W.R.A.A.F during the second world war, as a stenogropher and radar operator.
I was reminded today by my mother's youngest sister, (not that I needed reminding) just how kind and generous Mum & Dad were. They would always help others worse off than themselves, even though they had very little money. Mum used to buy clothes and shoes for the poorer children. I suppose that was when she was teaching, I am not sure, but it did jog my memory. They frequently put a box of groceries together for some poor creature, out of their own larder. We kids never felt deprived and would never think to complain. We would have been scolded sverely if we had.
Mum travelled extensively around the world, and was with one of the first groups of tourists who were allowed in to China. She had travelled around Europe and the UK. A lot of the time she travelled alone, something that makes people think twice these days. She had a blast.
She definately lived life to the full.
She had lots of friends and loved her family very much. We are going to miss her greatly. I certainly will miss our games of Scrabble, as I could beat her quite often. Not a small achievement given her vast vocabulary and understanding of words.
Rest in peace Darling Marmy.