Sarah Dunkley

This web site was set up to enable my family and I, along with my Mother In Laws friends to pay tribute to our Mum's life. Sharing or just giving people the opportunity of reflecting on their memories that Mum has left with us all. Hopefully this web page will be able to give the people she has left behind some form of comfort, that I'm sure we all long to find from time to time. In the way of knowing that we can now tell mum the things that have happened since she passed away and tell her the things we would of loved her to have known and shared with us.

All of us united in saying in our own little way that we love you Mum and always will xx.

Mum was born as Sarah Dunkley but was known to all as Sadie. She sadly passed away on 3rd April 2006, at the age of 74.

As I have only been a part of the Dunkley family for six years, I only ever knew Mum as enjoying a retired lifestyle. This mainly entailed endless trips to Yarmouth to Mum and Dad's caravan. Mum even got me and her Son Fred (my husband),that hooked with the caravan life style that we became Mum and Dad's Yarmouth Neighbours for six months of the year. That is probably what made us as close as what we were, all those endless drinks, cigarette's, games of bingo and the endless day's and night's out. How did we manage to cram so much into so few years.

Mum was born in Scotland but moved to the Midlands at a young age, which is where she met her childhood sweetheart, best friend and life time companion - Dad. Mum and Dad were together for approx. sixty years, something I found to be very admirable and rare now a days, I used to tell Mum how amazing it was for me to learn this and she would just smile and agree. Coventry is where Mum and Dad finally settled for the rest of their time together.

By the way Smile, Mum always smiled even when she was in hospital, she was so brave and courageous, smiling away handing tissues out at one point. Mum was definatly a truly remarkable person and something I didn't realize until recently, the core of the whole family. Mum was definately the one who held the family together and the person that lots around gathered strength from when they needed to. Mum always seemed the family or friends ear when it was needed, or on the other hand the voice you heard should you need to be told or asked anything either.

Mum was one of nine children in her family, she had six sister's and two brother's, of which Mum was the eldest. Mum would often spend many a evening at the bingo telling me about how she looked after them all as she was the eldest. This always reminds me of the story about her getting caught smoking in the toilet shed outside, she didnt realize the window was open and all the smoke was bellowing out. Mum didnt half laugh telling that story. As I have said though no matter how hard certain things were in Mums past she found something to laugh and smile about to. I think we could of all learnt alot from Mum.

As for Mum and Dad they had Six children, Mum used to be at home looking after them, Whilst Dad was out at work. Among these six children were two sets of twins, didn't I say this lady was special, I found it hard having two children and that was with a seven year age gap inbetween, but Mum enjoyed every minuite with her children, something she would often tell me. Along with saying that she wouldn't change a single thing, she said everything happened for a reason, and that the majority of the time it was to make us stronger and better people.

From Mum and Dad's six children Mum went on to be grand-parent to nineteen grand-children and great-grand-parent to ten great grand-children, one of whom Mum never got to meet but will certainly be looking down on. Mum loved all the children and in turn they loved her to. As I have said I had only been in the family for six years but she reacted and interacted with me as if I had know her for ever, as for my two boys she excepted them, as if they were her own grand-children, this meant the world to me and like so for my boys. My boys would walk up to the shops with Mum or go round to her caravan for a cuppa tea and a chat and not forgetting the buscuit, even if it was dinner time. Mum spoilt them and thats one thing I never got to thank Mum for, so thank-you Mum for being with me and my boys the way you were, it means and meant the world to me.

Mum seemed to leave us so quickly, but in a way that she gave us all the chance to spend some quality time with her, telling her the things we felt we needed to say. Mum was diagnoised as having cancer which medically was her cause of death. How ever I do believe everyone is entitled to their own opinions and I believe something else was the cause.

Nine months prior to Mum passing away, her Daughter who was like Mums best friend and sole mat, as well as her Daughter, died suddenly whilst on holiday. From this day I always felt as if we lost a part of Mum to, she was never the same and would you be after something like that happening? It wasn't till then that I witnessed with my own eyes that there was such a thing as a special Mother and Daughter bond, I had heard people refer to it, but now I was seeing it for myself. The long talks that Mum and I shared after this sad event used to reguarly be Mum needing an ear for a change and I was so touch that she felt comfortable enough to be able to do this with me. Mum's main thought was how Carol her Daughter was a people person and never liked her own company, I believe in my heart of hearts that this is why Mum decided to leave. She wanted, or should I say needed to be with Carol, so she wasnt on her own anymore. Carol is so lucky to have you with her Mum and I know that your broken heart will now be mended. The gap you have left behind still remains within us and no amount of time will ever heal that. Love and miss you every day and there is always a place in my heart which is yours xxxx.

I dedicate this web site to my Husband Fred who I have seen broken by grief, and reduced to heartbreak, tears and this overwhelming sense of lose. That until now I have felt helpless to ease in anyway. I hope that he will be able to find some comfort, along with the strength in leaving his messages when times are hard and light a candle when he feels the need to. I love you Fred and hope with all my heart that you find some comfort when you are here. xxxxxx