Mum... three small letters representing a whole universe. How can I even begin to explain who you were and what you meant to me ? And how can I go on without you as you were definitely my rock and my anchor ? Luckily you have passed down so many things to me over the years, I keep hearing your voice saying things to me, things that didn't seem to be of huge importance at the time, and I now know you were trying to prepare me for this moment, the moment I had to stand alone. I am sure you did a great job but was I a good enough pupil ? Only time will tell... I realise how lucky I am to have had you with me for so many years and to have shared so many things with you. Sometimes it felt we were "too close" (can that be possible?) and that we were "too alike" (or is that just me flattering myself and wishing to be like you and emulate who you were?) 
I remember my childhood as golden days, the sun was always shining, there were always groups of people and picnics and lots of laughter. People loved you and you loved people, you had a huge heart and would do anything for anybody (I often heard that said about you). In my adult life my friends all loved you and often said that you were "the Mum that everyone wished they had". Sometimes I found that difficult to understand, they had their own Mums and surely they felt like that about their own Mum ! Now I realise that we had the shining star of Mums. One of my French friends always called you the "Queen Mum" and she was so right, you were the Queen of Mums. Not to mention how you were as a Gran ! You waited so long for that role and when it finally came along you made every day count and made sure every minute spent with you was an adventure for Jordan and Christian. The pride you had in those beautiful boys could not even begin to be measured... 
So now Mum you have left us alone, you  were tired and sad without Peter. Daily life was becoming so difficult for you... We had projects and plans.  Holidays to Ireland and Newquay, a weekend in London to celebrate the family birthdays in the Spring, all of which you were looking forward to. Life will never be the same without you. I just hope that the five of us can carry the shining beacon that was Marion Cole-Bird-McGarvey forward in this difficult world and make you proud ❤️