Joan Tirrell was born on 23rd September 1928 in Wickersley near Rotherham in Yorkshire. She was married in the summer of 1952 to Kenneth Battersby at St Alban's Church in Wickersley. I was her bridesmaid.
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Joan and Ken lived all their life in Bramley which is very close to where she was brought up. They have a daughter Sandra who is married to Stewart and two grandchildren Lauren and Oliver. I think this photos must have been taken in the 1950s around the time of their marriage.
I recent years both Joan and Ken had suffered from bad health, Ken had a stroke many years ago and has depended on Joan a lot. Early last year it was decided that she wasn't well enough herself to care of him so he was moved into a care home and a few months later Joan also had to be admitted to one. Eventually they were both able to be in the same home. Sadly Joan passed away on 8th January 2014.
I had a trip to Rotherham on Tuesday to attend her funeral. It was only a small one as there is no other family left and all Joan's friends have sadly died too. Her brother Walter lives in Kent and doesn't like to drive that far so he was unable to attend. As well as Sandra and her family and a family friend, there were a couple of neighbours and some of the staff from the nursing home.
Sandra had chosen the music for the funeral and as Joan wasn't a religious person she chose some of her favourite songs instead. Joan was an Elvis fan and also liked Westlife so the songs she chose were Always on My Mind and The Wonder of You by Elvis and You Raise me Up by Westlife which seemed very appropriate.
The photo below is of Joan's brother Walter on the left, then Joan and a friend, my mother Kathleen and Joan's husband Ken. I think it was taken in the 1970s
This one of my mother and Joan was taken in 2002 at Roche Abbey not far from where Joan lived. It is the most recent one I have of her.
I have such fond memories of spending summer holidays in Yorkshire with my grandparents and Joan, she will be sadly missed.
