This has not been a good year for anyone. We’ve all suffered through the Covid lockdown which has brought its own challenges. But I have also lost a number of family members, which has been devastating.
I have explained, in earlier blogs, about the loss of my mother and mother in law. My husband’s brother lost his long term partner last month. These deaths have been heartbreaking. My mother, mother in law and sister in law had underlying health issues but this did not make their deaths any less painful.
But, a few days ago, my cousin, only sixty two, passed away from Covid. This death I find very difficult to process and understand the total devastating loss felt by his family.
My mother’s younger sister was her best friend. We grew up together as one big happy family in a small town in South Africa. My childhood was based around this close family unit and I look back on those years with much happiness. I am five months older than my eldest cousin. We remain close even though I now live in England. Her brother, who has just sadly passed away and my brother, were soul mates. They could play together for hours with never a cross word coming between them!
We moved to another town when I was fifteen and then marriage and children led us along different paths. But we never lost touch. In 2018 my husband and I spent a wonderful two weeks in South Africa with my cousin and her husband. She arranged a couple of days visiting her brother and his wife and we remember this time filled with much fun, laughter and reminiscing.
He was a real character, one of life’s gentlemen and loved his family above all else. He had retired so spent his days fishing and wandering along the beach front fascinated by the many ever-changing rock pools. He thoroughly enjoyed having the time to ‘do his own thing’ after years in a very stressful job. He had a telescope facing the sea and loved watching dolphins swim past his veranda. He was one of the most contented, happy and relaxed people I knew and I envied his deep sense of inner peace.
So it is with a very heavy heart that I will never see him again. This time last year his son had arranged a hospitality suite at Manchester United, the team he avidly supported for many years. His younger sister lives in England and they were in London for his nephew’s wedding. We live much closer to Manchester so my cousin and his brother in law visited us for the weekend.
They arrived on the Friday evening and we had a marvellous time catching up on family news. They were both so excited and couldn’t wait for Saturday! It was my cousin’s dream come true! Their ‘challenge’ catching a tram and losing each other on their return journey, was hysterical. A barbecue aided by a few beers brought this fun packed day to and end. Waving them both off on Sunday morning, after a full English breakfast, I would never have guessed that it was going to be the final farewell. I would never have believed it possible! Life could not be that cruel?
But, alas, a year later, I sat in the office watching my South African family celebrating the life of a much loved, respected and devoted husband, father, son, brother, family member and dear friend! He has left wonderful memories and a lasting legacy to ensure he’ll be gone but never forgotten.
Rest In Peace.
Jenny Burrell 