Nancy FARRELL Obituary

Mum by Rachel Fleury

A woman of many talents -
Knitting, sewing, embroidery,
Painting, ceramics,
Cooking, and hospitality.
You found joy in collecting things -
Many, many, many things.
Your turtle collection speaks prophetically
Of the years of longevity
That seem to run through the Nesfield family.


More recently,
Butterflies brought you a smile -
A gentler symbol that life is fragile.
Surrounded by treasures gathered over the years,
Your mind stayed sharp:
Mahjong and Rummikub tiles would fly.
You walked, you gardened, you cherished friendships,
You travelled widely
And gathered even more memories.


But that thief called dementia
Began to steal them back.
Not to be outdone,
You conjured wickedly funny tales -
Of Fancy Nancy,
Nancy Island,
Dad´s many entrepreneurial escapades,
Your litany of degrees...
Struth, you must have been busy!
Almost always,
There was a kernel of truth.


No more will I hear your voice on the phone -
That crack-up cackle
That nearly burst my eardrums.
Those Groundhog Day calls, repeating ourselves:
"Mum, I´m calling from China."
"What are you doing there?!"


Names and faces slipped away at the end
(Except for André, of course).
But one story we heard time and again
Was how much you missed your dear, dear friend.


After thirty long years
Sitting beside Dad´s empty chair -
You´ll now be reunited.
Together.
Forever.
Resting in peace.

I have very fond memories of boarding at 156 Russell St. Palmerston North, with Nancy, Gib, Chris, Louise, Karen, Sarah, Daniel & Rachel in '72 & '73.
Nancy was a wonderful, generous and warm person and I feel very lucky to have known her. May she rest in peace with the Angels.