JO STANDISH. Beloved Mother, Nana, sister, aunty, daughter and friend. GONE BUT NEVER FORGOTTEN AND ALWAYS IN OUR HEARTS.
Jocelyn Standish was born on the 23rd June, 1944 to Jim and Florence Standish. She was the younger sister of Shirley and older sister to Helen and Lesley. Jo had three children who she loved very much, Carley, Ryan and Diana. She travelled the world and had many great friends. Jo was artistic and intelligent and enjoyed life greatly. In her later years, Jo was sick with Cerebellar ataxia, which eventually led to her being bedridden. Jo passed away peacefully on 22nd July 2007, AGED 63. She will be sadly missed by everyone who loved her and admired for her courage throughout her brave battle.
Poem by Jocelyn Standish...
ON A DAY LIKE TODAY, IT'S HARD TO KNOW WHERE TO START
BUT REST ASSURED, THE WORDS COME STRAIGHT FROM THE HEART
TO ALL OF YOU GATHERED HERE TODAY
EACH OF YOU UNIQUE TO ME IN YOUR OWN SPECIAL WAY
AND TO MY OWN SPECIAL FRIENDS TOO NUMEROUS TO NAME
IF YOU CAN REMEMBER AN ANECDOTE, YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO THE CLAIM
TO ALL OF THE PEOPLE MET MY LIFE THROUGH
I HAVE THOUGHT OF YOU OFTEN, IF ONLY YOU KNEW
IT'S ALLRIGHT TO LOOK SADDENED AND SHED A FEW TEARS
FOR ALL THE LAUGHTER WE HAVE SHARED THROUGH THE YEARS.
TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY, SOME GONE SOME REMAIN
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO MEETING YOU ALL AGAIN.
MOTHER AND FATHER IF I HAD TO CHOOSE ONE
THAT IS SOMETHING I COULD NEVER HAVE DONE.
I HAD SISTERS ONE, TWO, THREE
THEY ALL MEANT THE SAME TO ME EQUALLY
I HAVE HAD A GOOD LIFE AND FAR DID I ROAM
BUT FRIENDS AND FAMILY PULLED ME BACK HOME
I WILL LONG BE REMEMBERED FOR MY VERBAL ANTICS
I STARTED OUT YOUNG SO HAVE HAD PLENTY OF PRACTICE
EMPATHY, COMPASSION, SINCERITY TO NAME A FEW
IRONY AND WIT WERE IN THERE TOO.
I KNEW HOW TO QUIP AND MAKE PEOPLE LAUGH
SOME WOULD SAY AN APT EPITAPH
TO TOM I WOULD SAY I'M ETERNALLY GLAD FOR ALL THE GOOD TIMES WE DEFINATELY HAD
TO GOD I GIVE THANKS FOR AN INTICATE MIND THAT THROUGH MY THREE MY BEST ACHIEVEMENTS I AM LEAVING BEHIND.
MY THREE GREAT ACHIEVEMENTS, THEY ARE, CARLEY, RYAN AND DIANA-
I AM LEAVING YOU TODAY BUT I WANT YOU TO KNOW
THAT I WILL ERE BE BESIDE YOU WATCHING YOU GROW.
AND OF OFFSPRING YOU HAVE, I WILL BE WATCHING THEM TOO
AND I KNOW THEY WILL BE SPLINTERS OF YOU.
I HAVE LEARNED HOW TO RATTLE AND
I HAVE LEARNED HOW TO SHAKE
FOR EVERY MOMENT OF EVERY HOUR THAT I HAVE BEEN AWAKE.
I USED TO COVER BOXES AND MAKE SCRAPBOOKS GALORE
UNTIL MY HANDS WERE UNSTEADY AND I COULDN'T DO THAT ANYMORE.
ABOUT THE BAPTIST STAFF, I CAN'T PRAISE THEM ENOUGH
THE WAY THEY HELPED ME EVERY HOUR, WHEN THE GOING GOT TOUGH
THE HOWICK CHRISTIAN CHURCH ON AVIEMORE DRIVE
FULL OF GOOD PEOPLE TRYING TO KEEP ME ALIVE
UNTIL ONE MORNING I GAVE UP THE FIGHT AND FADED AWAY.
IN SPITE OF WHAT i WAS EXPECTED TO GO THROUGH
GOD WILL UNDERSTAND IT WAS JUST TOO HARD TO DO.
I COULD GO ON AND BORE YOU ALL DAY
BECAUSE AS YOU KNOW I HAD PLENTY TO SAY
BUT MY SHIP HAS SAILED AND IT'S TIME TO SIGN OFF
RAISE YOUR GLASSES AND JOIN ME IN A GREAT "MUSELTOFF".
R.I.P Mum, we love you. forever.
If tears could build a stairway and memories were a lane ,
we would walk right up to heaven and bring you back again,
even though farewell words were spoken and we had time to say goodbye ,
it seems you were gone before we knew it , and only God knows why .
Our hearts still ache in sadness, and secret tears still flow ,
what it meant to lose you, no one can ever know ,but now we know you want us
to mourn for you no more ,to remember all the happy times life still has much in store,
Since you'll never be forgotten , we pledge to you today
a special place within our hearts Is where you'll always stay."
