A Very Personal Memory of June 15th, 2024

It was on the 15th June last year that our family lost Jean, Wife, Mother, Grandma and Great Grandma.

It was totally unexpected. We were on holiday at Isla, Cantabria, Spain, when at just after 7.00am Jean collapsed with a Cerebral Haemorrhage. Despite very fast and determined Paramedic help, Jean was declared dead at 7.35am

A year may have passed, but it still seems unreal.  At times it seems like yesterday, at others hard to believe a year has passed, a year of many conflicting thoughts. a few tears and of course memories.

Memories of someone who always had a smile on her face. Jean loved her painting, something she started in earnest on her retirement as a Teacher. (Nursery, Infant and SEN Speciality).

The Outdoors, Travel, Holidays and of course our dogs, Jean loved.

It was though the Children that always played the largest part of her life. Indeed Jean was responsible for creating a ‘Family Tree ‘ (at the last count) of 15 happy soul’s, what a legacy. Never happier than when she could interact with them….  and when at arms length, the knitting needles clacked creating something new, not always a wearable sometimes it would be a larger than life toy (see below)  As I say, never happier than  when with the children.  My regret is that we never did get that ‘extra large’ family photo.

Many happy memories, but still a situation that I find hard to believe did actually happened… but memories of a warm welcoming smile for everyone. and a great shared life.

Thank you for endless happy memories….

All of us need to remember that we do not know what the next day, even the next few minutes, has instore… sometimes my daily message may not be enough, but lets try to…

Please Remember ….
Stay Safe …. Be Kind…. Look After Each Other

15th June
(C) David Oakes 2025

13 thoughts on “A Very Personal Memory of June 15th, 2024

  1. She obviously brought great joy to all your lives. It is so very true that we do not know what the next day, even the next few minutes, has instore for us. I am sorry for your loss.

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  2. David, what lovely, sad, tender, and beautiful pictures and words about Jean to all of us. Thank you for sharing. You caught her with so many expressions: her kindness, her tenderness, her reflective spirit. My favorite is the one with her hair blowing under the baseball cap. She seems so strong.

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    1. She was…that made the event so unbelievable. But Jean created so many memories for so many. I still get messages from children she taught in infant school that had always kept contact with Jean… despite many are now mothers themselves.

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