Josephine "Jo" Castle (28 Apr 1955 - 1 Oct 2025)

How do you capture a lifetime of love and laughter with mere words? It’s impossible to even try, how can I summarise an infinite number of memories and moments within a few paragraphs. A billion words would be inadequate. But I have done my very best to use slightly fewer than that today, as I am sure you are all relieved to hear, I know Mum would be too.
Even that lovely word “Mum” is not enough to describe everything she was to us.
Once, she told me that all she had ever wanted, even from a young age, was to have her own children - this came as no surprise to me. Of course, most people think their Mum is the best, but she really was objectively world class.
Of course, she was protective, loving and caring like all good Mums, but she was never smothering nor pandering. She didn’t stand for any nonsense and was far from a push-over; but gave us just the right amount of freedom we needed to push boundaries – after all, she had already been there, done that!
She loved unconditionally and I don’t think there would have been much that would have shocked her – I never really tested that theory though. She made me entirely comfortable to be completely honest with her. Sometimes she would jokingly say “Where’s my handbag?” and clutch it to her chest in fake dismay at the risqué thing I may have just said. She was always the first person I wanted to tell anything and everything to.
But she was so much more than a Mum, I was always aware of her being a complete person with her own full life. She always led, like all good teachers, by example. She is my inspiration.
She’d never really sweat the small stuff, had no time for unnecessary drama and had a healthy disregard for the opinions of others. Despite her concerted efforts to instil this philosophy in us when we most needed it, it is a mindset I was only able to fully embrace as I got older, she very wisely adopted it much earlier in life.
Her sense of independence and “I can do it myself” attitude are invaluable lessons for which I can never thank her enough; anything I have ever achieved in life is founded on them and the example she set.
I recently described her as an “instinctual feminist” - she just knew that we were capable of anything if we applied ourselves. But she taught us that we were not entitled to anything other than that which we earned through hard work and resilience. She encouraged us to take advantage of all the opportunities that we could. The work ethic she instilled in me is probably too strong, but it has stood me in good stead for life.
In another time and place, she may have become a leading designer – she was a total style icon in every respect, with incredible creativity. Not only do I remember her well-coordinated outfits and amazing shoe collection, but also her fondness for redecorating and her frequent re-arrangement of our furniture – always looking to improve things and get them just right - leading fashion, never just following it.
She loved shopping of course, whenever I am considering a purchase, I always hear her voice in my head saying “if you want it, get it”– an approach with which she has kept Temu in profit for the last couple of years!
Some of my fondest memories are of our many trips to IKEA. Whenever we’d finally return home, we were slightly disappointed if we hadn’t had reason to buy any flat pack to build together; she rarely had to read the instructions.
She would never let herself be easily beaten by any challenge or problem and was incredibly practical, logical and a born problem solver. Years ago, after I had broken my leg and was confined to a wheelchair, she devised a way for me to have a shower in the garden using a paddling pool, washing up bowl and a plastic office chair – we were crying with laughter the entire time – I have never been so happy to get clean, she made me happy in a million ways, a trillion times.
It is so difficult to think of her in the past tense, she was and remains a constant in my entire life, through triumph and tragedy, she was always there and will always be a part of me.
I would literally and figuratively be nothing without her; she made me in every sense. She’d always tell me how proud she was of me, I hope she knew that I am incredibly proud of her and everything she was and continues to be to all of us.
Mum, I love you much more than chips – always have, always will.

Our beloved Jo- you will be greatly missed & I will always cherish the fond memories and adventures we shared : the belly laughs, GG’s front porch conversations& road trips to Oki. Sending love to all our family wish we were closer so I could hug you all. The service & all the tributes & pictures were perfect & lovely. The “it’s all done love” made me hear her voice in my mind clear as day. Love you all!! Xx V

Love Kerry, Nick & John

If you’re wondering where the sordid was, try Surdoc, I hate predictive text xx

Jo I’m sorry I won’t be there to see you off, great memories of our teenage years and up the sordid with Terry, you fought this bastard desease so long , you have my admiration for that not sure I could . Much love dave

RIP Jo 🌹Linda & Mick

In Loving Memory ❤️

Rest in Peace Jo, you are now Mick, Natalie, Danielle and your wonderful grandchildren special Angel, looking over the special people that will always love and miss you xxx

Forever in our thoughts Jo such great memories. 💕💕💕

Dearest Jo fondly remembered with a smile. Rest in peace ❤️Jan les & family xx

Thank you for making my sister's final hours as dignified, pain-free and as peaceful as she would have wished.

RIP Jo, I will always have fond memories of you xx

RIP Jo, I will always have fond memories of you xx

Rest in eternal peace Jo reunited with family & friends God Bless

You are and will be my sunshine forever Nan xx