Eulogy for Irene Irene was born on the 29th October 1946, in Hull, East Yorkshire, to Cyril and Kathleen. Dad, Cyril worked as an electrician and Mum Kathleen, who is now in her 92nd year, worked as a clippie [bus conductor], during the war. Irene had two sisters, Betty and Jo and two brothers named Brian and John. At the age of eight years Irene gained her first sporting achievement…. That of getting her nose broken while playing wicket keeper in a game of cricket; apparently she stood too close to the batsman… not a good place to stand ! Her other sporting achievement was that of getting very skilled at ten pin bowling; it was a sport that she loved and she excelled at it. When Irene was a baby, her Mum, Kathleen left her in her pram outside Boyes’ store for around three hours. When she realized what she had done she raced back to the store and found Irene sound asleep…. Irene slept well ever since that day. Irene and Frank met up at their place of employment; the company was called ‘Beadles Electrical’. I asked Frank if it was love at first sight and he replied that he never really noticed. Frank worked in Credit Control and Irene was a shorthand typist… Frank said that she used to type all his demand letters… it took the head of the typing pool to get Frank and Irene together on a foursome date but it was to be the start of a wonderful relationship spanning over forty years. Eighteen months after that first date, Irene and Frank tied the knot. Frank left Beadles Electrical and changed his job to that of bus driving; it was a job he really enjoyed and he remained in that job for many, many, years until their move to Spain in 2006. All their married life prior to Spain was spent in Hull. Irene, known to her family as ‘I’, leaves behind precious children Kerry and Lee, Son in Law Mark and Grand-daughter Kayleigh. Irene was a very creative lady and loved doing all kinds of crafts… she was also very much a DIY’er; in fact her skills covered a wide range of tasks around the home, from crochet to painting and cleaning out the gutters ! Frank told me that he struggled to hold the ladder and that Irene got an electric drill for a birthday present one year. What was Irene’s passion [other than her family]? Number one must be her garden and she had the greenest of green fingers around… she seemed to be able to make anything grow and even lost causes were nursed back to bloom and would flourish. Her baking skills were also legendary and she loved to cook. Irene loved the music of El Divo, and her favourite television programme was Neighbours. Irene had the ability to make everyone who met her, fall in love with her; she did not get upset or fretful and also did not argue about things. Frank told me that he did all the arguing and Irene did all the calming down; in fact, she did this so well that Frank would often end up arguing with himself because Irene would not take the bait! They moved to Spain in 2006 after waiting [as normal here] for their house to be completed; it was to be for a change of lifestyle for both of them. After arriving here they made many really great friends and loved and enjoyed the lifestyle here on the Costa Calida. Irene fought the cancer not once, but twice. In 2003 she developed bowel cancer, but after an operation and very lengthy treatment, she beat it; sadly it returned in 2009 and despite her courage and determination to beat it again, this time she was not able to win. Throughout all of her struggle, her beautiful smile never faded; she had an inner glow which radiated out through her eyes and that wonderful smile. Frank and all the family would like to thank all their friends who have been such a blessing to them during this very difficult time.. you have all made the coping more bearable because you really care. Irene, you will be so missed by Frank and all of the family and there seems to be an empty space in all of our hearts. Thank you for all the happy years, the laughter, the fun, the smiles, the joy you brought wherever you went… everyone loved you so much. Thank you for sharing your life with us. God bless you Irene.