Llinos’ Story
The following is the eulogy which I read at my mum's funeral on 16th June 2018. My mum, Bronwen, had died in hospital on 7th June 2018 at the age of 65. She had been receiving treatment for cancer but it had taken a turn for the worse in the eight weeks before she died. She left this world with me, my husband and my dad at her side.
Here is the eulogy, which I wrote from the heart and I hope it encapsulated who she was, and always will be, to me.
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This week I've received a lot of messages saying Mum was a lovely lady, who always wore a smile, who always dressed smartly and glamorously. When I was little, Mum would tell me that she was 'going to put her face on' after breakfast. I came to think of her as actually having two faces, the private one for in the house and the more glam look that we all knew her for! Her green eyeshadow and pink lipstick were her trademark look. My favourite memories of her are mainly based at home in Llangefni. Mum's world revolved around her home and family. We used to iron together after I came home from playgroup. I would iron the clothes first with my little iron and board, then Mum would finish the job, and all the while we'd be singing along to the radio. Mum loved her boxer dogs, and Oscar was like our bodyguard when it was just me and Mum whilst Dad was at work. I'd play with him in the garden while she watched us through the window.
Mum may never have learnt Welsh, but her dedication to my Welsh education was unparalleled. She would read Welsh children's books aloud to me, as she knew how to pronounce everything, but had no idea what she was saying! Even when I moved to Cardiff six years ago, the distance didn't affect our bond. Everyday I would think 'I must tell Mum about that' or 'I must ask Mum's advice on that'. All of my hobbies come from her. She instilled in me a love of history, a penchant for murder mystery novels, an inability to resist a cute animal.
It was always Mum I went to to talk about the latest music or film I wanted to see. Mum's taste in films was absolutely great for me as I was growing up. She loved Pirates of the Caribbean and the closest she ever got to action films was Kung Fu Panda! She even enjoyed the Harry Potter films, as she wanted to know if Snape was good or bad, and of course, she was in Hufflepuff House. When she visited us in Cardiff, me and Oliver knew we'd have a busy time! Mum wasn't one to sit at home and relax when it came to holidays or weekends away. She wanted to visit all the museums and go to new places. She would take us out for dinner and she and Oliver would enjoy sea bass followed by Eton Mess. She'd love to spend the afternoon shopping, much to Dad's annoyance.
Mum was my best friend, my biggest champion, my sister, the most devoted wife and mother I've ever met. She loved a glass of Pimm's and thought Cadbury's Dairy Milk was the best chocolate ever. As much as I'm utterly bereft without her, I am glad to have had her in my life for 31 years, and proud to be her daughter.
