Eulogy by her son Keith, at Waltham Abbey Jewish Cemetery Ray and I, Sue, Alexander, Edward, Holly and Thomas welcome you here today. My mother was a remarkable woman and though so sad Ray and myself want to celebrate a long life that was lived to the full. I want us to think of mum with fondness and joy and recall the cheerfulness and love she brought to our lives during her life. Mum you will be remembered as someone who was a natural carer, who had an instinctive ability to love and nurture others, be it as a parent, a wife, grandparent, a sister, a friend. An afternoon spent in your company would lift our spirits through your warmth, your humour and relentless support. Your towering presence will be sorely missed. Daphne spent her life living in the East End of London where she was born and brought up. Her heart though was in the east end within the close jewish community that existed at that time and that she enjoyed throughout her life together with those who remained. As a young woman mum wanted to be a nurse and would have made an exceptional one had she been given the opportunity. Although that wasn’t to be she became a high quality seamstress and later when most people were looking at retirement a new career in Docklands in an office as a market researcher. Daphne really found her vocation at the Jewish Club at Beaumont Grove where she was a volunteer member of staff for nearly 50 years. Mum had a unique ability to develop relationships and engage with others irrespective of age or background, her acceptance and understanding was apparent to us all. I know from your words of support during this difficult time how much Daphne meant to you and just how highly she is regarded as a companion, a confident and admired by friends and relatives from around the world she has so extensively travelled in recent years. She was known to a generation of east end children as Auntie Daphne. The woman who would look after all the kids by making sure they were safe in their walk from school to club to school and home. Those children knew there was a kind, warm presence watching over them, someone they could confide in and enjoy playtime. As a mother she associated with other parents, instinctively understood the needs of other mothers and offered help selflessly. When she lost my father again she reached out to others in a similar situation and set up the Beaus and Belles club for middle agers and managed this successfully for many years giving of her time tirelessly. In her latter years mum contributed hugely to the day care programme at the club for the elderly, learning about such things as alzheimer’s and dementia. Her patience and understanding and her commitment to making a difference to their existence clear for everyone who worked with her to see. Two years ago she was nominated volunteer of the week in the Jewish Chronicle (Read Article) Most of all Daphne knew the joy of family and was a devoted and loving wife to my father. Their time together was relatively short but rich in love and joy. Mum was a one man woman who never even contemplated the idea of meeting anyone else, her Sid was the love of her life. Daphne’s final journey was travelled yesterday to these grounds 8th March the day of their 57th wedding anniversary day. She was a wonderful mother to Raymond and I. It was not easy being a single mother in the seventies but mum was so strong and protective we never noticed and were always made to feel special and privileged. Daphne also experienced loss and heartache with the early loss of her mother and dear brother Joseph. In many ways this just made her more determined to live life to full and mum travelled extensively not only to visit her loving son Ray in Africa, the far east but also with her dear friend Anita as far as Australia and the US and elsewhere. The singer songwriter Bob Dylan wrote ’ take care of your memories for you cannot relive them’ I see your face full of joy and pride when you looked at your grandchildren, the fondness and devotion to your friends and family, the way you gave of yourself and time to help others and enhanced the quality of our lives. Mum dealt with her illness in much the same way as she approached the rest of her life in a calm ,unassuming, complaint free and dignified way. My recent memories of time spent with mum are very special, I recall a second admission to hospital following the first operation when we had the inevitable long wait to be seen and there was a daughter on the ward distressed at her mother’s suffering. Mum gave no thought to her own situation and went over to comfort this stranger such was her compassion. She came to be admired and respected by nursing staff wherever she was. I remember the unconditional support provided by her friends Margaret and Anita in her last few days, I remember the way you Ray would make her laugh and pick her spirit up during those precious months you spent and selflessly looked after her towards the end of last year. How she loved and cherished her annual visits to you and was able to experience life to the full through you. Take care of your memories for you cannot relive them In his book the dreams of my father Barac Obama said: ‘ultimately our fate is decided by the quality of the nurturing from our parents’ Our fate mum and those of your grandchildren through your inspiration is in safe hands. God bless and rest in peace alongside our beloved Dad.