Sadly at 8.45am on Sunday 4 April Margaret Berry (Kirsty's Nana) passed away in Tauranga Hospital holding the hand of Mick, her husband of over 60 years.
Before our departure Margaret told us that we were not to come home in the event of her passing. Therefore once we found out about Margaret's passing, we drafted the message below for Kirsty's dad to read out at the funeral on behalf of ourselves and Kirsty's brothers Adam and Tim. The message read as follows:
Unfortunately the 4 of us are all currently overseas at the moment and Nana, forever being organised, efficient and sensible, made it known to us at various times that we were not to return from overseas in the event of her passing. While this is difficult to respect in such a time as this, that is exactly what we must do.
Nana was many things to many people, to us over the years she really was just Nana. Nana was a very much loved figure usually referred to in reference to Grandad and usually as one word - "NanaandGrandad". Nana, for us, can be remembered for many things including and most certainly not limited to:
Nana's love of cricket, whether it be listening to it on the wireless in the car parked at Pilot Bay or watching on the television to get the full benefit of the hairstyles of the Indian cricket players. While we never watched cricket on TV with Nana, we did go to a lot of Northern Districts games at Blake park.
Nana's recognition when we were teenagers growing up in Tauranga that anything surfie was cool. Her visits to the surfshops around the Mount to buy us birthday presents were probably legendary. She became a well known figure in these shops, with the assistants turning the loud music off for the duration of her visit.
Nana's ego boosting comments. These were plentiful and often along the lines of, "That skirt looks fantastic on you, you look just like a model." This type of comment would be backed up by a comment to those in the vicinity along the lines of, "well, she's looking lovely isn't she??? Don't you think that she is looking lovely? "
Similarly, Nana's love of fashion and her own self - presentation. In particular, Nana's eye for what does and does not work on other women. While she was often right, the volume of Nana's comments were perhaps not always appreciated by the particular fashion offender in question. Not that Nana was too worried.
Being given Werther's Originals every weekend and tinned Cavendish and Harvey sweets when we were good or at Christmas. Of course, this was not including the not so secret supply of 'crisps' and chocolate eclairs in the pantry, together with lemonade and a mandatory straw.
Nana practised sport, music and sewing with us growing up. None of us learnt the piano properly but our thudding of Nana's piano was always tolerated; we think.
Her family imposed love of pig paraphernalia. Somehow, Nana tolerated somewhat bemusedly our various jokey pig presents over the years. Perhaps not so funny for someone allergic to pork.
Nana's love of a good gossipy conversation. She was always a willing participant in a good old yarn.
Nana's love of the Mount, its beaches, ports and walking tracks. Nana loved drinking a coffee brought from home in a thermos while the big ships came in.
Finally, Nana's unfailing love for the city of her birth, Liverpool. It really is true that in her life, the song "you'll never walk alone" was very apt.
Grandad, our love and thoughts are with you in particular at this time. Nana was very much treasured to us and we will miss her deeply.
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