Gaynor Mountford

“You are no more than a thought away.”   Gaynor sadly passed away at Royal Stoke University Hospital on 7th September aged 63 years.  Loving wife of Paul and much loved and cherished Mum, Nana, Sister,  Auntie and Friend.  She will be remembered fondly and so sadly missed by all her family and friends.

Gaynor was a much loved lady whose early life was in Crewe and who later migrated all the way to The Potteries and Newcastle. Her time here has been sadly cut short, but she leaves great uplifting memories.

She was in every way a people person. Family, friends and work colleagues warmed to her.

She understood so well that our lives are built on relationships, and she knew how important it is to show care for others. In particular she understood the significance of loving family life, and how it goes to the heart of what it is to be a loving and loved person. She received love from her daughters. Then there were other children in wider family life to love and receive love from. Gaynor’s sister Lesley had written loving words which were read out during the service.

Let’s not leave husband Paul out of the love  – Paul has been the loving faithful spouse who was there for her in so many ways, not least in the loving care he has given her in recent times as her health has deteriorated. And he himself has had his ongoing health challenges.

Let’s not forget Gaynor’s love of animals – especially her dogs, and when she was younger her love of horses (the Service sheet had a fine picture of her on horseback). With one exception, all her dogs have been rescue dogs and they have had all the love she could give them. Maisie and Bella are now wondering when she will be back with them.

Love is a quality that has an eternal aspect to it – as a thousand love songs will tell you. So, as we celebrate the love in Gaynor’s life and heart, we should be inspired to seek that love in our lives and share it with others.

Gaynor has demonstrated fortitude and courage in the face of adversity. She has shown inner strength through long-term pain and more recent challenge. Fortitude and courage are not qualities like your shoe size or the colour of your eyes. They are qualities which you have to work on and refine. You might have fear in your heart, and there is no doubt that Gaynor had her share of that as she contemplated the short time she would have to leave family and friends,  but you can still build courage.

Paul has said that Gaynor was not high maintenance. Her tastes were simple enough – a favourite meal would be cheese on toast. It is great if you can be content  and if you can have gratitude for what life has given you – even if it comes with some bitter pills to swallow.

But while she was not high maintenance, she appreciated what looked attractive and what appealed to the imagination. In music and song she found expression for her emotions. In her reading of novels she found food for her imagination. She loved a mystery! In the diaries and journals she has written, and was unable to complete because of her illness, she has expressed her creative artistic flair. And let’s not forget her particular aesthetic interest in tattoos. (She had a large tattoo of The Tree of Life on her back. This can be regarded as representing not just art but the way a tree tells a life story and  represents the interconnected nature of all things.)

There is more to beauty and inspiration than just a first impression. All this taps into a dimension of life which speaks of transcendent qualities.  We are all spiritual people!

Some of her strength of character, her resilience and confidence, may have been passed on to her daughters and other family members.

So, Gaynor leaves you much to reflect on. You honour her by seeing how you can be better people by following her lead.

She was a beautiful person not just in appearance but in herself, and now she bequeaths you beautiful memories.

Now she is reunited with loved ones who have gone ahead, especially we might think of her being again with her mother. One day those of you who here who love her will see her again. We are all held in God’s love, and Gaynor knew it.

Her funeral will take place on Wednesday 21st September at Bradwell Crematorium at 10.40am

For further information please contact our funeral home on 01270 584447.