A very dear friend died today. She was 92 years old, which is a mighty good innings considering the stresses and strains she endured over the years – surviving the blitz, illness, hardship and bringing up four children with minimum support.
It took hard work and fortitude to provide and care for a family during the 1950s but Irene’s faith and courage sustained her. When those around her stumbled Irene carried them too.
Manchester’s inner city was an unforgiving place after the war, with no agencies to help struggling families claim benefits. Irene relied on the one person she could trust – herself.
City housing was damp, crowded and devoid of any modern facilities until well into the late 1960s when Irene finally had the luxury of hot running water in her home.
Quite apart from loving and caring for her own family Irene somehow found time to care for me giving me my first birthday party at the age of 21 (my own mother didn’t do parties).
I marvelled at Irene’s ability to even remember my birthday considering her commitment to work, home, family and church but remember she did and I was delighted.
Like many women of her time Irene had the ability to make a few ingredients go a long way often inviting me to tea when she had little for herself.
It was her selflessness that kept her going. Had she ever stopped to consider the load she carried it might have proved too much to bear.
Thankfully there was no risk of her fretting about herself. I often saw her bend under the strain but Irene never quit. It was a luxury she couldn’t afford. Walking home from work dripping wet and carrying bagfuls of shopping she simply lit up the gas and made dinner. In Irene’s life there was no room for self-pity.
My children came to love Irene, just as I did, and will miss her dearly.
In this self-indulgent world of vacuous celebrity Irene’s qualities are all but extinct. She fought against the odds raised a fine family almost single-handed always considering those worse off than herself.
Irene died peacefully in hospital following a stroke. Sadly, I never had the chance to say goodbye so, this is it: Goodnight Irene.
