Hello
To those of you who have no idea who I am, I’m Juliette, or more fondly known by Sarah as Mrs Smith, or more simply Mrs S. I’ve not had the pleasure of knowing Sarah for nearly as long as many of you that stand here before me, but nonetheless cherish the close and special friendship we struck up.
My daughter Romilly had not long been at Moira House, just a few days in fact, when a friendly lady approached me saying she had heard all about “your lovely little Romilly”, she could clearly see I hadn’t a clue where I supposed to be or what I should be doing at that pick up, but that was Sarah, noticing those very little things and making them easier. It was some time later at one of our many coffees or lunches that she confessed she could tell I was “one of us, one of the good guys” …. Well, I suppose for me it’s something to continue to aspire to, but most certainly true of her, she was without doubt one of the good guys. Even during her recent time at St Wilfred’s when Claire and I were fortunate enough to see her she remained positive, interested, sharp and above all witty.
When Pete first suggested I could say a few words initially I was taken completely by surprise, it was only later that flattery and then sheer terror hit … how was I ever going to do the right thing, say the right thing and frankly behave like that lady I ought … and then an epiphany .. I recalled a conversation I had had with her some months ago, and that was it……… I didn’t have to speak from my heart, I could use hers …. We had a rare conversation about how this day might actually be, in fact we had quite a giggle about it, she had said she would like to be here, she would like to appear at the front by some kind of satellite or video link with big angel wings behind her – not just any old feathers you understand, but big top end, ostrich type feathers making the wings, we wondered if maybe The white Company might stock such items .. you can all perhaps wryly smile as you think of any particular anecdote she might recall at this time … We didn’t discuss the detail of what she might say, too busy with the detailing, obviously. I suspect, no I know without hesitation she would thank you all for taking the time to be here, she would ask that you all love, look out for and care for her very precious family, she would want you all to live your lives to the full, to remember her often for her generosity, kindness, love and humour and not dwell on the disease that took her from us all too soon, it didn’t define her life and should not define her death. But the thing I am most confident she would have wanted to say is the biggest thank you and I love you to the man she always referred to as ‘My Pete’ and of course to her darling girls whom she could not have been more proud of.
So all that leaves me to say really on her behalf is she never did stop fighting and she’ll us all for the party on the other side