Olivia Prendergast
In Celebration of Our Mum, Claire
Fundraising for Sue Ryder
Story
On the 28th of February, after the return of the frost and the snow moon; after a spectacular orange medallion sunrise bringing the scents and sounds of spring, our lovely Mummy died and joined her Daddy and our doggo who we lost this past year too.
She died at the Sue Ryder hospice in Leckhampton in the most beautiful setting surrounded by a care team who moved the earth so we could see our mum during this pandemic with all its restrictions. If you would like to honour mum and have the means to do so we'd be so grateful for donations to the hospice team.
She was an extraordinary stained glass artist and teacher with postgraduates from Central Saint Martins. She was a hair and makeup artist for the RSC, Barbican and for Les Mis in days gone by and a hairdresser known for zooming to people's homes on her whizzy bike and making people feel good. She was also a tireless advocate for Nancy Noodle, an incredible mum of an unusual brood, and a talented gardener, chef, host, comedienne, rule-breaker and most of all an incredible mother.
Flanked by her twins, surrounded by love and family she slipped off this mortal coil peacefully and without pain. We laughed right up until the end. We sang and cracked jokes and even though Mum couldn’t talk back, she was extremely expressive with her eyebrows. We surrounded her with flowers on her pillow and held her through it all.
A parade of nurses and doctors passed through on their breaks to tell us how much they have loved taking care of our mum, just a slice of how special this hospice team are.
Judy, a favourite, came by after her shift had ended to say some soothing words and to wash mum’s face. She found us standing in the grounds of the Hospice looking out on the fields and the lake.
“Your mum has a habit of crawling into people’s hearts and making a home there.”
She’s right.
Mum hit 4 years sober this month. Since she chose recovery, she has become a pillar of her community. She built an empire of love from the ground up. She has worked so so hard to make somewhere we could call home. Mission accomplished.
Mum always tried to be the best at all she set her mind to, so it was no suprise she was the best at getting cancer. (Ella is a comedian. You can laugh.)
Her twins (hi! it's us!) had the privilege of looking after our mum since her diagnosis in mid-January. It wasn’t easy, but we have had such a laugh. Side-splitting, cheek aching, eye-watering laughs. Mum dealt with this illness in a way that I could never have myself, with her wicked humour, mind-blowing determination, trademark grit, and a good dollop of rebellion.
The one time we allowed ourselves a break we returned to find her building a bonfire, relishing breaking the rules.
Her famous last words: don't throw away the camping washing up bowl. You can make cracking jelly in it!
Thank you to all the exceptional staff at Sue Ryder Hospice. They are quite literally a building of earthly angels. We are so grateful. You created a home for us in an impossible time, you made us smile, you cared for our mum with kindness, gentleness, humour and respect and you gave her peace at the end of her life.
She was extraordinary. She was bonkers. And she was ours. All of ours.
Sending love to any and all who are grieving with us.
Livi, Belles, and Nancy Noodle xxx
