A tribute from Max, Margaret, Jacqui, Paula and Lauren
and families
Family Likeness
By Alison Jean Thomas
"You're just like them!" they say.
And me, I yell, "No way!
He's so moody,
She's so shrill,
His chin juts out,
Boy can she shout!
His nose is big,
And mine's quite small
There's no resemblance at all."
But then on days of harmony
I find that I agree.
Our family is made of different parts,
But we're all the same
In our hearts.
Vale Phyllis Denoon nee James from your baby brother Maxy
Fondly known as Phyly as all the James’ had a ‘Y’ added to the end of their name.
Big sister to Max’y’ and eighth in the line of 14 children.
Even though you lived 8,788 miles away you were always my big sister and that feeling of family never faded. We remained very close with phone calls, letters and later even facetime with the help of the kids.
Phyllis’ letters were a highlight of Christmas every year, she always wrote a bit of ‘helpful’ advice for her little brother but also conveyed such a sense family with at least ‘three pages’ full of news and anecdotes.
I have such fond memories of Christmas at Phyllis’ house at Dukes Road, Fawkner where the entire family would get together to celebrate. Such a large family with a definite penchant for celebration (and beer!) was always ripe for fun. I remember one Christmas Phyllis gave Ma a cigarette and Ma didn’t even smoke!. For some strange reason I also remember you came up with the revolutionary idea to freeze the cauliflower so you’d have enough to feed the masses, cauliflower was considered a real treat!
Phyllis loved a bit of fun and used to ride the milking cows when she lived on the farm in Drouin!
Phyllis also loved sweets from an early age. I remember Phyllis and Dorothy cooking and coming home to the stench of burnt toffee and them being told off by Ma. She obviously stuck at it as she became an amazing confectionary cook supplying her wonderful Lolly Shop in Bragg Creek. She insisted that anyone visiting from Australia had to smuggle liquorice as they just don’t have the good stuff in Canada.
Phyllis was always family first, any member of the family that visited Canada was graciously hosted by Phyllis and Stanley. Margaret and I were fortunate enough to visit in 2007 and Phyllis and Stan showed us a fabulous time at the Calgary Stampede, Banff and every lolly shop in Calgary because she had to do a delivery!
Phyllis: I will miss my beautiful, energetic and fun big sister. Even though I have a huge hole in my heart the memories will live on forever.
