4 years ago
Matty
For those of you who could not attended the funeral here is the eulogy I did at the church.
Well I think Scott was on about me with the five min time limit as we all know I like to waffle on a bit, Jeanette was always quick to point out that I couldn't tell a story and went all the way around the houses, so I’ll try not to go on for too long! I have been to a few services with Jeanette and after she’d say "well that was pointless, I couldn’t hear a word they said” - so before I start can you all hear me at the back?
“Well I am the managing director,” was a phrase often heard at Freddie’s; but Jeanette was so much more than that. Our Freddie’s Team is like a big dysfunctional family and Jeanette was the matriach. It might say ‘Freddie’s’ above the door but we all know Jeanette held the purse strings and was probably the only person who could nearly keep control on Fred's spending. I used to joke that Jeanette was the one who paid our wages so make sure to keep on her good side- because I'm sure that at some point we have all been on the wrong side and felt the lashing of Jeanette's tongue. She was stubborn, oppinionated, forthwright and of course - always right.
She was a manager, mentor, friend and a mother to us. She had a way of making each one of us in the team feel like we were her favorite.
We are so privileged to have worked with such an amazing, strong woman, who had such a deep care about her team members. Jeanette taught us strong values and many many invaluable life skills. Mainly how to make a cup of tea.
For those of you here who had ever had to make Jeanette a cup of tea- I can sympathise. After nearly 20 years of trying I think I just about cracked it.
“Use two cloths for cleaning, one to wipe and one to dry”
Someone described Jeanette as “The Queen of Clean” but a few years ago the juniors called Jeanette and Do the Kim and Aggie of Rossendale. Jeanette liked everything just so and was never one to sit around. She could be scrubbing the kitchen floor on her hands and knees well past midnight, or bleaching the tiles in her bathroom into the early hours. No wonder she never came into work before 12! She’d be calling me now for saying that!
Just like her home, Jeanette was always immaculate.I honestly don't know anyone else in the world who would put shoulder pads in her pyjamas.
She was amazing at laundry! No stain or tint mark stood a chance against Jeanette and she often took our laundry home, especially the kids clothes, and they always came back like brand new. Not just perfectly cleaned and pressed but folded and tied in a food bag. She used food bags for everything. Sandwiches, dog food, tablets, pair of tights, shoulder pads……..
Jeanette was the organised one of the Freddie’s family which is evident in the work that she did in the office. All joking aside about her picking her own hours, she did everything that needed to be done when it needed doing. Everything was filed away perfectly and she knew where every invoice was, or at least should be- there was always a trail of post it notes after Jeanette had been in the office - “where is the reciept?” “why is this on my desk?”
She knew every payment going in and coming out and was known to be checking the online banking in the middle of the night.
I was really impressed with Jeanettes' use of modern technology and computers, but when I got a friend request off her I just thought “Oh no! Who's put Jeanette on Facebook!!"
She did excel though with Iplayer, ITVhub, 4ondemand and Netflix. She loved a good drama and when she came to stay at ours it was always “seen that” “watched that one” “finished that last week”.
Jeanette had a story for everything. In any situation she could tell a tale bigger and better than yours! And if anyone was ever poorly…………………………..one word - septicaemia.
We all have different memories of Jeanette but one thing they all have in common is the way she loved and lived for her family.
She had the most inspiring love for her family. Every time she shared one of her family stories, her eyes would light up with the most amazing sparkle.
She had the most amazing courageous strength and tenacity that every single person who ever came into contact with her could feel while in her presence. She went through so much in the past 6 years, things that would have broken a lot of people but never Jeanette . She carried on gracefully because she knew she had to be strong for the people who were watching her, her family.
She never complained once. She was a strong lady, a brave woman who enriched all our lives.
So, Jeanette, heres to you,
Heres to always cutting your hair too short, and taking the brushes off us when drying your hair
Heres to your special pillows
Heres to squirting your perfume getting into a taxi and never having the right change to pay for it
Heres to pouting in every mirror you pass and checking your quiff
Heres to Christmas Eve bags, Christmas underpants and Mother New Year
Heres to Sun Shimmer face tan and your green eyeliner
Here’s to your ruthless honesty
Here’s to getting drunk off one drink
Heres to hating your Secret Santa pressent, (every year)
Heres to your potato hash spag bol
Here’s to ironing in the garden in the sunshine
Heres to solpadol
Here’s to spending two hours in Tesco’s
Heres to carrying a tin to put your cigarette ends in
Here’s to your beautiful garden
Here’s to the never ending search for lace up leather boots
Heres to not saying bye before putting the phone down
Heres to the abundance of love you had for your children,grandchildren, and family
Heres to hoping they make a good cup of tea up there
Jeanette has left a massive hole in all our hearts. She has also left a 15 year old, half blind Shitzu with a touch of doggy dementia; Molly. So if anyone is looking for a dog who doesn’t need much walking, she’s free to a good home!
We will always remember Jeanette as a leader, a fighter, a lover, a nurturer and a very resilient woman with strong ethics.
Your courage, determination and sense of humor is something we will always carry with us and hope that we can display those same characteristics especially in trying times.
I am going to end with a few words from Freddie.
Being the youngest and having two older sisters there was so many benefits to growing up. When I arrived Jeanette was seventeen and Dorothy Anne was fourteen, it was like having three mothers. And being a sickly child I was cared for deeply and shown so much love. But as the years went by the age gap closed and we became closer than ever.
There is so much I would like to say but sometimes words are just not enough. I know it may sound cliche but life will never be the same. You were my sister, my friend, my rock, my world. I pushed you to the limit because I believed in you, and you in me.
I would like to thank you for always being there for me, and for the 26 years in business together. Through thick and thin you have always had my back.
I will endeavour to keep you proud of all of us,
Sleep well,
Until we meet again
Good night, God bless x
