(15 May 1915 – 02 April 2002)
All of us here, friends and family, have come to pay our respects to Ida and to celebrate and give thanks for her life.
We all have our own thoughts and memories – some with laughter, some with sadness.
It is at such times as this that we are inclined to say: “If only…” but I’m sure that this is a natural part of mourning and a way of coming to terms with our loss.
My sister Ida was born on 14th May 1915 and would have celebrated her 87th birthday on the 4th of next month. She has had a long and active life. If I were to cover all the things that I cal recall we would be here until tomorrow so I will content myself with just a few memories.
Our father was landlord of the Wheatsheaf Hotel in Hull, and as a young woman, Ida helped serve customers for a number of years.
Ida married Roy in the early years of the war and I vividly recall wangling a 48 hour pass from my unit in order to be there. They were blessed with the birth of their daughter Pamela in 1943.
Speaking of the war, some of you may not have known that Ida was a volunteer ambulance driver throughout the war and had the devastating experience of driving into Hull during the Blitz. Some of her friends here today will recall the times they spent together at ‘The Post’ as it was called, in a heavily sandbagged Memorial Hall near Willerby Square.
Unfortunately her husband Roy died suddenly in August 1962 aged only 52, and Ida was left alone with Pamela. It is typical of Ida that she has kept in touch with Roy’s family over the last 40 years, as has Pamela also.
Later, Ida took the job of Receptionist for Arthur Shepherd, the funeral director, whose premises were then in Brunswick Avenue, and although Arthur is no longer with us, I feel that it is most appropriate that the firm bearing the same name, has helped us at this difficult time, and I thank them on behalf of the family.
Ida later met John Christopherson, a true gentleman, and they were married in Scarborough. You only had to be with them for a short time to realise that they were very happy together. I find it hard to believe that it is 24 years since John died. Ida has lived alone at 63 Mill Lane since then and I would like to thank John’s family for the support they have given her over this period of time. She has also had many good friends, both new and old (and I don’t necessarily mean old in years, although some are!)
She has been a supporter of the NSPCC and has attended many lunches with other members in recent years, some of whom are here today.
I’m sure she will be remembered by us all, first as an elegant lady, impeccably dressed and a great upholder of the decencies of life; also for her outspoken views and comments (she didn’t suffer fools gladly). She was a great one for organising, or trying to organise others, to so what she considered to be the right thing to be done, and this applied to both family and friends, as I’m sure some of us will recall.
Although Ida suffered much pain during the latter stages of her life, I wish to thank the doctors and nurses in the hospitals and nursing homes who cared for her.
Ida died peacefully at the end, thanks to the great care and sympathy given to her, and to us who were near her, by the dedicated staff at the Dove House Hospice in Hull.
May she Rest in Peace.