Jean Elizabeth Louca (28 Jan 1956 - 16 Mar 2026)

In loving memory of Jean Elizabeth Louca who sadly passed away on 16th March 2026

My mum was born in number 34 Gillway , to Maurice Payne & Catherine Beauchamp . Those who know my mother know she never had an easy childhood being brought up solely by her dad along with her sister Anne who was 3 years older . It wasn’t easy being a single father in the 1950s & my mum helped keep the family together & was a massive help to her father .
My mum attended perrycroft school for girls & also worked on a farm as a teenager which she used to tell me her fond memories of. She also spoke very fondly of her grandparents in Haunton & her trips down syscote lane to visit them .
She was baptised a Catholic & took her holy communion, her faith in Jesus is something she held onto all of her life .
My mum married my dad & my brother was born in July 1973.
They had a little flat on the Leyfields where she had many friends & great times as she used to tell me . They later moved into 53 Elizabeth drive where she lived until her last day . She loved her house & garden , everyone knows she was very green fingered . I was born in December 1984 & I owe my mum my life . I was poorly as a baby & my mum was the one who saved me .
Growing up we had the best mother you could ask for , she made so much effort for us on birthdays , Christmases which she loved . She would have the tree up after Halloween ! She was so talented , she could sing & play the guitar , she often sung to us & made silly names & songs up for us . We could not ask for a better mother .
As well as becoming a manager of Thomas Colwin betting shop in Gillway she worked as an entertainments officer independently & also with Palace FM Tamworth’s first radio station. Along with Tracey Millard her best friend on a Sunday morning they had a regular show which was fab to listen to . My mum worked with people like John Fox & her good friend Rikk Quay at battle of the bands & Tamworth rock festival . My mum is the reason my brother is a Dj today that many know him as Dj Louca . Starting off the famous Tamworth modraphenia at the castle hotel to the march of the mods which takes place every year & successfully raises money for the teenage cancer trust .
My mum used to recruit me & my friends from school , along with a friend who she got to dress up as Santa to go & sing carols at Christmas in st Editha’s hospital for the elderly & she would hand out her homemade mince pies to them . She did a lot for charities involving Tamworth over the years she was involved with Tamworth radio .
She also had a silk screen printing business at one point in the old Mr Bs indoor market where she printed Tshirts .
My mum adored all of her grandchildren & would always pull all the stops out at Christmases for them , throwing parties & spoiling them with sacks of presents . She was like a second mother to my eldest who she adored . She later was a very very proud great grandmother to two lovely little boys .
My mums last years were hindered by multiple illnesses including lymphoedema which caused her to become disabled & limited her a lot & really got her down . Even though she was ill she tried her best for everyone & loved us all as much as she could until she went to sleep at home for the final time , with my dad by her side .