Hazel Joan Bradshaw

My perfect mother-in-law

I met my future mother-in-law a week after I met my future husband. It was love at first sight (with my future mother-in-law, not my future husband – that took a bit longer – about an hour or so!)

We chatted in the kitchen as we washed up after our first meal and she told me afterwards that I’d said that I was sure I’d be seeing a lot more of her in the future. We made sure we did, though unfortunately, not in the last few weeks as Mike and I both had coughs and colds and didn’t dare come near her in case we passed germs to her. That will be my biggest regret – not seeing her in those last few weeks.

What was brilliant about her was her ability to make YOU feel the most important person in her life – she made everybody feel special, that’s the special person that she was. She remembered every detail you told her about everybody and every part of your own life. She’d ask you things weeks later that you’d forgotten about and you’d have to rack your brain to remember the details – but she’d know!

Our shopping trips were very special and we’d egg each other on to buy things, daring each other. She’d tell me she’d introduce them to Tommy one at a time so that he didn’t get too much of a shock in one go! I’m not sure how she managed the bills, but I’m sure she did.

I took her to see Mamma Mia! She loved it. Have you ever seen an 86 year old dance down the aisle of the cinema – I did?!! She told me that every Friday she and Betty would dance in the kitchen to the CD of it – and I even saw the evidence.

She touched everybody who met her. She was the most incredible, stylish, kind, wonderful person I’ve ever met and I regret that I knew her for such a short time – only 7 years. I miss her each and every day and will do for the rest of my life.

Tina Bradshaw

November 26, 2009

Beautifull words from Ian Bradshaw

HAZEL JOAN BRADSHAW (1921 – 2009)

My Mum was like a beautiful and very bright lighthouse set above the rest of surrounding humanity and showing the location of a warm, welcoming and safe harbor. As her family set out to sail upon the troubled seas of life, we could all see her shining out on the horizon encouraging us to pursue our dreams and explore the wide world out there. She was a fixed point on which we based our navigation. When trouble struck and our boats became damaged or started to take on water, all we had to do was turn to the ever shining light and struggle back to warm words, encouragement, sympathy, understanding and a blanket of love. She patched us up and provisioned us with wise words and advice ready to set off again. If we found treasure, the first thought in all our minds was to run home to that ever welcoming light to share our joy and triumph. She gave meaning and direction to our lives; what was the point in finding treasure unless you could run back to tell Mum? Who was there to comfort and amuse, patch every wound to our hearts and praise our successes? Mum made a place of warmth, light, elegance and total tolerance which she ruled benevolently as an undisputed Queen.

Now the light has gone, the harbor is no more and we must look around us in the dark.

Don’t worry, not all is lost.

When we set sail Mum gave us all a small part of her light which we take with us wherever we go.
If we want to see that light again, we must all come together, each bringing our own small spark which combined with the others will once again spread the light of love across the world.

I will always be one of her favourite children as we all were.

Ian Robert Bradshaw

Sam Bradshaw (Grandson)

November 20, 2009