Zenah & John Chalkley

“A love so strong, not even death could part them.”

Zenah & John both very sadly passed away at Leighton Hospital.

The Beloved parents of Sharon & Devoted grand parents of Aisha & Lewis.

Kind donations are going to The Stroke Unit at Leighton Hospital.

Their funeral took place on Thursday 4th November 2021 at Crewe Crematorium Chapel at 12.15pm

For further information and to offer your condolences, please telephone our Funeral Home on 01270 584447

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The service of thanksgiving was held on Thursday 4th November for Zenah and John
Chalkley; blessed with sixty-four years of married life, they were totally devoted to
each other with a love so strong, not even death could part them.
They were both incredibly family orientated, loving parents to Sharon, much loved
mother and father-in-law to Lee, a doting nan and grandad and adored by Aisha and
Lewis, John was a dear brother to Leslie and the late Bernard, Arthur and Donald,
brother-in-law to Margaret, Joan and the late Eileen and Margaret and Zenah was an
only child but also a much loved sister in law to John’s brothers and their wives.
They had five nephews and a niece, Andrew, Anthony, Alan, Brian, Kevin and
Angela, and were also a great auntie and uncle. They also had many good friends
and neighbours over the years, apologies for not mentioning everyone by name in
the short time we have.
John and Zenah shared so much in life, best of friends with the freedom to simply be
themselves and were extremely content in each other’s company.
John and Zenah were born within a couple of months of each other in 1936, John on
3rd May, Zenah on 9th July, a fair few mile apart, John in Nantwich and Zenah in
Stafford. Zenah left school at the age of fifteen and initially worked in a grocery
shop. John also left school around 1950 and worked for three years at the Barony
Clothing Factory. It seems Zenah must have moved to Nantwich or Crewe during
her childhood as they met whilst John was working at the Barony, and she started
work at Chatwin’s Bakery.
John joined the RAF, four days before Zenah’s eighteenth birthday in 1954 and just
two months after his own eighteenth. They were both twenty-one when they married
in 1957 but John continued to serve his country until he returned to civvy street on
31 st January 1959 then unfortunately, just two days later on 2 nd February, he was
conscripted to National Service for a further twelve months then after hanging up his
uniform for the last time, he found regular employment as a milk tanker driver for
various companies until he retired at the age of sixty-five. Having worked hard all his
life, he could have sat back and enjoyed the rest but instead he worked for one hour
in the morning and one hour in the afternoon in what turned out to be his dream job
as a bus driver for Malbank Coaches, taking children to various schools in the area
and he absolutely loved the children.
Skipping back to their early married life, he and Zenah initially lived in a cottage on
the outskirts of Nantwich and Sharon was welcomed into the world at the Barony in
the sixties. They relocated to Church Minshull for a while and then moved to their
forever home at Queen’s Drive Nantwich in 1979.
Zenah was a devoted mum and housewife although she did have part time jobs in
the evening, cleaning offices in Winsford and at Malbank School and latterly at
Dorfold Hall where she cleaned but also helped with dinner parties and when they
hosted the shoots.
John regularly went to the Speedway with his best mate Eric usually with Sharon and
Eric’s daughter Mandy tagging along and all four of them would enjoy going to
Victoria Hall in Hanley to watch the wrestling and Zenah often spent time with Eric’s

wife, Shirley who was also her best friend. As a couple they would normally go to
Eric and Shirley’s then Eric and John would go out whilst the two ladies enjoyed their
night in.
As a youngster John played in a football team and in later life he was a member of
the Conservative club and normally went twice a week on Mondays and Thursdays.
Zenah on the other hand wasn’t sporty nor did she join the various teams, She didn’t
often go out for a drink but she and John did go to the Wyche Anglers with Les and
Joan. Zenah loved to knit and was always knitting baby’s shawls and cardigans plus
she did have another significant love in her life – Cliff Richard, she was Cliff Richard
mad! She loved going to concerts and had the pleasure of seeing her idol on stage
when Sharon took her to for Mother’s Day. She also got tickets for Daniel O’Donnell
in concert and went to see Dominic Kirwin with Shirley and Mandy.
Zenah and John were both fond of animals and when they were first married, they
had a West Highland Terrier called Tansy – and they loved her so much, they had an
ornament that looked just like her, now a part of Sharon’s beloved collection of
doggy ornaments. They also adored their dog Brandy and cat Tiddles and for years,
John had to have a green budgie called Joey until the last one bit a hole in the
curtains so Zenah said he could have no more budgies after that!
They both doted on their grandchildren Aisha and Lewis and had lots of fun with
them both vising places like Chester Zoo, The Blue Planet and the Monkey Forest.
They very often went to the fifty pence shop and Grandad would give them a fiver
each but then say, “don’t spend it all on the first thing you see!” But they always
came out with loads of tat! They also went to the candle factory and Snugbury’s on
the way home for an ice cream.
Nan always plied them with sweets and treats until they were well into their teens
and didn’t want them anymore – the sweets that is, the treats were often still well
received! Nan and grandad totally spoilt them both, in a nice way though!
Family holidays were often spent Torquay, and in later life they both enjoyed going to
Weymouth and Scarborough and they also loved going on Warner Holidays with
Uncle Les and Auntie Joan.
Despite his time in the RAF, John would never fly abroad so Zenah often went with
family or friends.
John and Zenah celebrated their Golden Wedding at the Civic Hall in Nantwich, and
everyone enjoyed it so much, they also hosted their Diamond Wedding there in
2017.
So many happy times filled with fun and laughter, a devoted couple in life and in
death.

May they rest in peace.