Eileen Macquire

Words from her daughter, Nicci.

Remembering the words she spoke at her mum’s funeral

I am lucky to have had my Mum be a massive part of mine and my kids life for so long, she would do anything for anyone and loved helping anyone in need as much as she could. She had so much family and friends that loved her as dearly as I and Jordan do.

She was born in Edinburgh. I can hear her and Nan Wilson telling me the story about how there were no midwives available down here so Nan, Mums mum, went to her hometown to give birth to her. 19th of January 1956, is where it all began. She grew up with her 3 siblings, Maureen, Alan and Karol, most of her childhood was spent in Moulton, where she started school with Mary in reception. They were both very lucky to stay friends all this time and thank Mary for being such an amazing friend to her over all these years.

The first 2-3 years of my life I lived in Northampton with Mum and Kerrie, it was round the corner from Ann, thank you Ann also for being an amazing friend to my Mum over all these years. Kerrie and I grew up with James, Emma, Ellen and Hannah and you were all like an extended family to us. Dean my cousin was like my little annoying brother, although i think i was more annoying to him, but it was clear that Mum loved him like a Son and the kids and I have had a great time looking at all the photos from our younger years, I never realised until now how much you Dean and Kerrie looked alike as toddlers.

Mum worked in various different jobs over her lifetime, starting of waitressing to in a solicitors office, Rockefellers nightclub I think it is called, to the George hotel, I can remember her making Kerrie and I, Lemonade tickled pink, I learnt the secret ingredient is grenadine and still this Christmas we made some for Kendal and Fin. I was very proud of her when she got a full time job at Kettering council, I knew she really wanted the position and can remember how nervous she was about the interview, I can remember meeting her with Kerrie in the market cafe on her lunch breaks, she always made time for Kerrie and I no matter how tired and busy she was with work. Family happiness was paramount to her.

When mum was working at the council this is where she started going to singles nights with some of the girls from there, this is where she met Gary and a while later, Jordan was born, I really hope he knows how much he is loved by Mum and myself. It was lovely to watch Mum be a mum to Jordan and view her from a different perspective, she really loved to love and always did all she could do to protect and nurture her kids.

Heartbreaking that Kerrie my big sis is no longer with us, but I am so pleased that after 23 years Mum is back with her and can get the peace she finally deserves with her eldest daughter.

Mum loved being a Nan and spoilt Kendal and Fin as much as she could with love and time. So much they have learnt from her and so many memories they have of her, Fin remembers her taking us to Disneyland paris and her going on all the rides with him, having a great laugh. She always made sure they were having fun. Kendal remembers baking, making fairy cakes and loads of yummy food, also making crafty things at christmas for christmas presents for friends and family.

Coffee cake, ice cream floats, lemonade tickled pink, salmon and philadelphia with crackers, mcdonald's strawberry milkshakes, prawn salads, ham egg & chips, cherry brandy, tia maria with diet coke and bacardi and coke. Corned beef hash and strangely tinned tomatoes on toast, these are some of the foods that the kids and I remember being her favourite food and as she loved food as a way to bring people together, and as a way of nurturing people, these foods & drinks will always bring back happy memories of her making sure that everyone was loved and cared for.

Family and friends were a massive part of Mum's life and she loved nothing more than going out for lunch or dinner or just to get together with those she loved. I could talk forever about my memories but everyone has their own memories of my Mum, Eileen, from reading cards and messages from over her lifetime to her from you all, it was clear that she was really loved and respected in all her family and friendship groups.

Eileen was also a birth mother to a son she did not get the chance to know in life.

At a very young age, while still living at home and with little choice available to her at the time, she made the heartbreaking decision to give her baby son up for adoption. He was born Lee and later named David.

Many years later, David began the search to find his birth mother, only to discover that Eileen had passed away just ten months earlier. Though they never met in person, this search led to something deeply meaningful — the discovery of family: a half-sister, Nicci, her children Kendal and Fin, and a half-brother, Jordan.

Closing words from David that were on her original plaque of dedication.

To Eileen
You were taken too early,
When I was so close to finding you.
A place for you is now within my heart.
Your son, David (Lee)