Jean Iliffe (13 Oct 1937 - 16 May 2026)

EULOGY Of Jean ILIFFE
*Due to time restrictions The Eulogy was edited and shortened by David prior to it being so superbly read out by Stuart Jeffs.
What you read below, is the edited shorter version that was read during the Service.

Written by: DAVID ILIFFE
Read at Chapel On 26th June 2026 by: Stuart Jeffs (Minister)

Jean was born in London on Wednesday 13th October 1937 to OLIVE BEASLEY.
She had 2 brothers - James and Michael

Jean sadly never got to know her father HARRY, he was drafted into the army during WW2 when Jean was very young, and was posted to Burma as an operator of heavy artillery, also known as the “Big Guns”.
HARRY was killed in action on 11th Jan 1944, and was buried at the war cemetery in India.

Jean didn't talk much about her "younger days", as they were not pleasant and it often brought back disturbing memories, and as WW2 broke out in 1939 when Jean was very young, she had dreadful recollections of the raids and continual bombings day & night in London, better known as “The Blitz”.

Not only had she lost her father to the war, she became separated from her mother too, during the chaos and destruction when their home was bombed to the ground.

As the authorities were unable to reunite Jean back with her mother at that time due to the constant bombing London was experiencing, she had to survive often on her own with help & support from strangers & the authorities, and relied on rest and sleep in places like: shelters, billets, churches, underground tube stations, and community areas.

The authorities eventually organised evacuations to what they considered safer areas, and Jean was one of the 2 million or so children evacuated from London.

Like many children in London at that time as many schools had been bombed, Jeans education and schooling days had been almost non-existent, and she was always conscious about this, particularly later in life with the way the modern world was moving forwards so quickly.

Circumstances relating to this next chapter of Jeans life are quite vacant, so dates, and any order of information will definitely not be precise, and as Eric Morecombe one of Jeans favourite comedians would say “it includes all the right words, but not necessarily all in the right order”

When Jean was a teenager, and although David doesn’t know dates & the exact facts, he knew his mom ended up living in a Stately home with a “wealthy and well to do family”, where she became a house maid for them.
David seems to think this was something to do with “Great nanny Dwyer”, who lived in Wolverhampton and was from the wealthy “Dwyer side of Jean’s family”

Jean often said not only how she thoroughly enjoyed her time there, but how she also enjoyed the duties and chores she carried out for the family.

When Jean’s time at the stately home came to an end, we know she ended up living with “nanny Dwyer” in Wolverhampton for a period of time, and although a strict and prim & proper lady, nanny Dwyer looked after Jean well and Jean thoroughly enjoyed her time there.

Although systems put in place by the authorities to reunite children separated from their parents during the war, didn’t exactly work effectively on this occasion, Jean was eventually reunited with her mother Olive, and moved to Birmingham where her mother was found to be living.

Jean's very first F/T job was in Birmingham at a place called SOUTHALLS, a name some of the ladies may be familiar with ?
She absolutely loved her time at Southall’s, and it was here where she met JENNY.

JENNY, or “Aunty Jenny” as she became known, quickly became Best Friends with Jean, and they remained Best Friends until Jenny sadly passed with dementia herself just a few years ago. (Jean was never told that Jenny passed, it would have broken her heart)

It was also in Birmingham where Jean met Eric.
Eric was ex RAF, and was a keen dancer like Jean. They actually met at a dance, became dance partners, and as the old saying goes “the rest is History”
…. or as Jean’s grandson Matthew would say
“They’re gonna be a Thing”

Jean and Eric danced regularly together, became highly trained in ballroom dancing, and were proud to have been awarded numerous medals at dance competitions and displays.
Did I mention Jean was proud to have danced in the famous Ballet “Swan Lake” ??

Jean & Eric eventually tied the knot, and a few years later in June 1962 when Jean was 25, her son David was born. David was actually a twin, but due to complications during birth – her 2nd born sadly didn’t survive.

As David grew, he acquired many hobbies and interests that kept him out of Jeans way including: Cubs, Scouts, Venture Scouts, martial arts, music, his career at OCS, and of course girls.
David became extremely close with particular friends – Colin, Alan, Terry, and myself, Stuart.

The 5 of us wanted to conquer the world, but we started a Folk Group instead.
We acquired instruments, learnt how to play them, and Jean & Erics Dining Room became our rehearsal room, and their kitchen became our bar.
Most will know the music continued for David in various formats, and in latter years he formed a successful function band & one of the line ups included Jeans grandson Matthew, and her daughter in law, Heather.
When they performed locally, Jean enjoyed being a groupie with her sister in law and Heathers mom, Carol.

Jeans next job was working in the laundry at East B’ham Hospital, a job she’d gotten thanks to Joyce Lewis. Joyce was Colin’s mum, and Colin was & still is one of David’s life-long best friends.
(Unfortunately, Colin cannot be here today as he’s away on holiday, but sends his sincere condolences to David & the family, particularly having known Jean for over 50 Yrs).

Jean simply loved her job at The Laundry, and spoke about it often with pride and passion right up and until her final few months.

Later in life when Jeans husband Eric passed and Jean was left on her own in B’ham, David moved her to Tamworth. He’d found her a wonderful little flat that she simply adored, & it was only a few hundred yards from where David, Heather & Matthew lived.

Jean loved walking, and as there was a park and castle grounds nearby, Jean would often walk around Tamworth by herself, or with David & Heather.
David, would also take Jean out often to garden centres that she loved visiting, and for rides in the Countryside that she loved, and to various places of interest, or sometimes simply just out for a coffee, a sit down, and a chat.

Jean was sadly diagnosed with Alzhiemers/dementia in 2015, and slowly became much more dependent on David & Heather as time went on.

Although dementia sufferers generally experience some similar traits, each person suffers uniquely, and although Jean suffered a slow and traumatic demise, David doesn’t want to dwell too much on how his mum became, he’d much rather remember the good days before it stripped her of her memories and took her quality of life away.
People may understand this, some may have had their own experiences of dealing with dementia & will know how sad, challenging and heartbreaking it is for the person suffering, and their loved ones.

David & Heather, who themselves have a number of chronic health problems, looked after Jean extensively day & night for 9 years, with help from some wonderful staff at Givecare, before the authorities finally admitted her into full time care in 2022.

This chapter of Jeans life was extremely challenging, emotional & painful, it became a journey of loss, sadness, and heartache, and was one journey that cannot be described easily in just a few words, and by the request of David, as Jean had unfortunately suffered enough when she really shouldn’t have, we will remain respectful and not mention this any further, at this already sad and very difficult time.

Every single person in this chapel, every family member, and every friend, close or distant, that know David, Heather & Matthew - will know what Jean meant to them, they will know that the Love they had for her was unconditional, and regardless of the emotional pain & loss this journey endured on them, because of the people they are – they will have tried absolutely everything in their power over & over to have tried to help Jean and fix this for her, right up and until Jeans last breath, and so they should feel no guilt, because even the good Lord couldn’t fix this.

Jean sadly passed on 16th May 2026.

Jean was Loved and cherished so very much in life by her family, and will be loved, honoured and missed so very much, in death.

David particularly wants me to say to Jean

“Mom, I loved you so very much, it was an honour being your son, I’m going to miss you forever xx”

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The FUNERAL INVITATION

As you will know mum (Jean ILIFFE) sadly passed away on May 16th 2026.

I am currently in the process of setting up an online obituary for mum that will include an area where you can pay your condolences and leave memories, photos etc.

In the meantime this is to inform of detail for mums funeral, which is as follows:

LOCATION
Sutton Coldfield Crematorium
Tamworth Road
Sutton Coldfield
B75 6LG

DATE
26th June 2026

TIME
11.30am

There will be a wake following the service where complimentary light refreshments will be made available and a bar for those that may require liquid refreshments (This is not a free bar).

LOCATION
Tamworth Co-Operative Funeral Service
Mews Suite
Upper Gungate
Tamworth B79 7NZ

RSVP
There is no need to respond by clicking the
ATTEND FUNERAL Link below, I would prefer if you would please just reply directly by message to me (David ILIFFE) by 9th June 2026

Thankyou David