Mary was full of laughter and joy! Anyone who met her will never be able to forget her smile a wicked laugh! Xxx

My mum was one of the strongest women I know. My parents split when I was about 7/8 and she had to raise me on her own. It wasn’t easy, we didn’t have much, but she sacrificed everything of herself to make sure I never went without. I don’t think as a child you appreciate how much strength that took or how hard that must have been for her. But she did it, she never once complained and she never let me see her struggle. As an adult, I am overwhelmingly grateful to her for that and unbelievably proud. I don’t think I could ever come close to repaying her for all that she’s done for me my whole life. She always said, no matter how bad the situation, or whatever the outcome may be, always find something to smile about or something laugh at. Well, I have to tell her, I’m struggling with this one. She was more than ‘just my mum’. She was my best friend, my no:1 supporter, my moral compass, and on many occasions, my therapist! There was no problem she couldn’t fix. No matter what had happened or how stupid I’d been, she always knew how to fix it. She brought love, life and laughter into my world, and made me who I am today. My mum always had a way with words, and an interesting view on the world. She could take the most mundane or ‘normal’ situations and transform them into hysterically funny anecdotes that would form lasting memories for years to come. One such memory, (my mother was a bit of a technophobe, she could just about manage to turn the laptop on and navigate Facebook.) She’d heard an album she wanted to buy, so I told her she could download it. I found it one iTunes and clicked download. Whilst it was downloading, she stared at the screen intently. All of sudden, she picks up the laptop and starts inspecting all around it. I said “erm… what are you doing?” … She replies… “Well, it’s says it done …” … She was waiting for the CD (complete with a cellophane wrapped plastic case) to magically fall out the bottom of the laptop! … I have many memories like this, for which I am thankful. There truly are no words to adequately describe how much I miss this incredible woman. She really was one of a kind. There will forever be a huge piece of my heart missing. R.I.P mum, I love you xxxxxxxx