Mum, you always said you never wanted your service to be mawkish, but I hope you’ll just allow me a few moments to bare my soul, which is something you were always able to do so beautifully in your own words.

To me you were always much more than a mother.

You were my counsellor.
My rock.
My friend.
My conscience.
My inspiration.

Everything I am today is down to you and of course dad, whose support and strength during these past few weeks I have greatly valued. My admiration for him has only grown.

I hope I have – and will continue to - maintain the same values, compassion, kindness and positive outlook on life you always had.
I’ll always be grateful for everything you’ve done for me, selflessly and with unconditional love. 

And I, in turn, hope that you always knew how much I loved you and how proud I was to have been your son.
We often take our parents for granted and I was just as guilty of that at times. But as I saw friends and family lose them over recent years, I realised that we all need to cherish the moments we have or live a life of regrets.

So, over the past few years I hope I took very opportunity I had to tell you how much I loved you. I know you never hesitated to tell me how much you loved me and how proud you were.

Life can be cruel and because of the current lockdown, I was unable to hug and give you a kiss for the last two months of your life. But our connection was so strong I am certain you were never in any doubt I loved you.

I also find some comfort in knowing that you were content with your life and how you touched so many other lives. I think you would be truly amazed how many people have expressed their condolences and how much they will miss you.

So yes, right now I am mourning. Crying all the time and wondering what a life without you looks like.

But someone recently said to me, I should cherish each tear and ache. They mean something special. There are many people in the world that did not, and will not, know a relationship as wonderful as I had with you, mum.

And you made it clear that the best way to celebrate your life and honour your memory is for Dad and I to live our lives to the fullest. So that is what we will do.

I will always love you. And I will always miss you. But I am grateful and blessed to have had you in my life for 53 years. And it is those many happy memories that I will cherish and fondly remember you by each day.