Condolences
From: jeremyphand@gmail.com <jeremyphand@gmail.com>
Sent: 29 December 2021 10:48
To: anita.alexander@telus.net; alexmarnij@gmail.com; Robert Alexander <alaxoil@explornet.com>; Ted Davies <info@tetejaunelodge.com>
Subject: Jeremy - My thoughts in memory of June
To Anita, Marni, Rob and Ted and the Alexander/Byrom Family, and others as you would wish.
My warmest wishes and love to you all, and happy memories of June and the family.
It was with great sadness that I learned from Anita and Marni of June’s death. This did not come as a great surprise as I have tried to keep abreast of matters through Marni and Anita over the years, and more particularly recently.
I am especially aware of the love, care and devotion that Anita and Marni have shown while June was first in a home in Calgary and then moved onto a hospice, and prior to that during her remaining active days at the “Lake” living independently. This I know is what she would have wished for. Rob and her daughters and Ted, and no doubt others all made this possible. I am sure that you will all look back over this time with pride as I did with my mother Pat and father Stan, knowing that I had done my best and remembering many happy and good times. I am also aware that it is hard work.
The passing of June at the age of 102 marks something of a mile stone. June is the last of the four “Byrom Sisters” - Anna, Pat, June and Rosemary and their respective spouses - my father Stan, and uncles Lloyd, Ken and Howard, and of course June’s first husband Edward (Davies).
My mother in her younger days once went to a fortune teller who said that all four of the sisters would marry men from different countries. This turned out to be largely correct. What an era their lives have spanned during the Twentieth Century, and an amazing time to have lived through – the Great Depression of the 1920’s, the Second World War, the Cold War, the decline of the Common Wealth, the rise of Asia and China, and the dominance of the United States and Russia. In that time we have moved from the simple letter to TEXTs, Emails, FaceTime and things I do not even know off. It truly is a different world with substantially ever-increasing changes, demands and uncertainty. I sometimes wonder if there is not the potential for a book or film based on the lives of these four “Byrom Sisters”.
We are now down to the “Cousins” generation on the Byrom side of the family - John, Big Ted, Anita and Marni, Fred, Bill, Rob and those of us in England. I am not sure of the order. This now includes various off spring of which there seem to be a great and ever-growing number, scattered throughout the world.
What a legacy June and her sisters have bestowed on my cousins and I. This friendship with them and their spouses Marion, Richard, Rob, and Kathy and others is paramount to me as I know it is to all of us. It is my true hope that this relationship will continue and extend down through the generations of the family, and others. We have something unique which needs to be continued and nurtured. WE ARE LUCKY.
I have many good memories of June and of course Lloyd and the family in Edmonton and then Calgary, Cameron Lake, Scoki Lodge, Birch Bark Canoes, Rum and too many beers, Ringo the dog, and Victoria and Vancouver. This is in addition to the many family gatherings and friends, and extended friends both in North America and New Zealand, together with over here in England.
I also think we may have a new addition to the family by the time this is read. I hope all is well. I can not dare guess what number Great, Great, Grand Child this will be for June and Lloyd.
I now say again my opening words “My warmest wishes and love to you all and happy memories of June and the family”.
Jeremy
(Jeremy Hand) June and Lloyd's English nephew.
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