Sarah Jackson (9 Jul 1933 - 10 Jan 2015)

I have so many fond memories of Mum that I will always cherish. When I was young we would watch the old black & white musicals together on Sunday afternoon TV. Mum would sing along. She always had something to say about Deanna Durban’s silly hats, even though she had seen those movies hundreds of times. We would laugh out loud. She often spent at the sewing machine at home, after a long day’s work at another sewing machine. She made pretty clothes for me and my sister and we adored them all. She would sit me by the fire and brush my hair and tell me stories from her childhood in Liverpool and what it was like growing up during the war years. Her love of her family was obvious and paramount.

Travelling alone to New Zealand, she did not want to miss out on anything the country had to offer. Overcoming her fear of heights, she climbed the 133 very steep steps (followed by an equally steep ladder climb) to reach the spire of Christchurch Cathedral. Enthusiastically climbing the hill to the Lyttelton Time Ball Station, she loved it here most of all. She enjoyed the views of the port with its deep blue sea and expansive blue skies. She hopped in and out of water taxi’s to enjoy the remote bays, walks and scenery of Abel Tasman Park. Walked through hot clouds of steam at Rotorua geothermal park, went panning for gold in Queenstown and so much more. She was undeterred even at 70 years old.

I will always fondly remember the countless times we sailed on the TSS Earnslaw, she enjoyed the splendid old steamer, the lake and mountain views but mostly because of the 50’s tunes that were thumped out on the ship’s piano. She sang along every time even though she might be the only person on the boat singing.

She was courageous, funny and very kind. I loved spending time with her enjoying the things she liked. She just lit up with delight and was truly just a gal at heart.

I will miss my lovely Mum.

Julie

I remember her as kind, resilient and undaunted when it mattered. She understood our needs and always put us first. She was intensly proud of her children and we all knew it.

I remember her sense of fun and good humour, but she could be forthright and stubborn if she thought it warranted. I believe that she was stronger than us all.

She had an almost pathological love of all things blue, and we all pulled her leg about her blue clothes, shoes and jewellery. She took joy in small and large things and could be acerbic if she felt you were getting above yourself.

We all remember the cherry brandy incident, notable because she rarely drank more than coffee. After 2 glasses she made daisy chains, in the garden, and sang songs with abandon, frightening our small sister who thought she was ill. The hangover was spectacular and lasted days.

I remember her superb bravura on her first holiday flight, her disappointment at arriving at a rainy destination, and the look of wonderment at seeing the sun, golden beach and azure sea. I also remember her pleasure and joy at watching baby turtles leave their beach nest and fight to reach the sea.

She had an amazing talent for winning raffle prizes at the WI meetings. Some of her exotic prizes included cheap soap, toilet roll holders and on one occasion a large bunch of carrots complete with lavish greenery. She walked home with them under her coat because of her embarrasement. It was a profound disappointment to her that she never won wine, cake or jam.

She was truly my friend and beloved companion. I have missed her terribly but remember her fondly and with love. Carole

John

My mum was kind, when I was young she was the person I could go to if I had a problem. But, she was also strict and didn’t put up with any nonsense. You did not get to stay off school because you felt a bit unwell, you had to be ill (and if you were not, you would end up wishing you had been).

She liked little things; objects and ornaments, which made her an easy person to buy presents for (though I probably never brought her enough of them).


In her later years I spent a lot of time with mum, she liked going out and about and seeing things and I have many happy memories of these times. She and I would sing along to music from the 1950’s as we drove along to places, looking out of the window to see if we could spot sheep or cows or horses. She liked animals. She liked babies and young children. She liked to buy hats that she never wore and she liked to have breakfast (whatever time of day it was).

I liked being with her and I will miss my mum.

John

In loving memory of my Aunty Sally. May her dear spirit rest in eternal peace. At rest with all her siblings.