Eulogy
 
Pat was born on the 18th of November 1931 and lived in the family home in Beckton Road, East London.
The daughter of Harry and Tot Jarvis, greengrocers from Silvertown.
She had an older brother Victor & younger sisters Shirley and Beryl. Sadly, only Shirley is still with us.
 
Pat went to school in London until she was evacuated to Bridgewater in Somerset, she hated it there. However, she passed her 11+ and went to a very fancy grammar school for girls, she had to walk miles every day to get there and back, but she loved the school.  Here she played hockey, lacrosse and she won a prize for her handwriting. 
 
At the end of the war Pat returned to London and attended Plaistow Grammar school. 
 
It was at school Pat met Bill, whom he called Trish. They were in the same class, and although a school year apart, Pat always said she was cleverer than him.
Upon leaving school she gained a job as an Insurance Clerk at the London and Lancashire Insurance Company.
Pat & Bill had started courting, they would spend many hours in Epping Forest, riding their bikes and eventually bought a tandem.  This was always a special place for them both and where they will take their last journey, as this is where their ashes are to be scattered.
Pat & Bill had married in 1952 on the 13th of December at St. Cedds church, on a cold winter’s day in very foggy conditions in London, with a reception at the local lido.
They were married for 68 years.
The newly married couple started their married life living in a
flat in Lewisham, then in 1953 one year later their first-born Ian
arrived. Followed by John, Jane and Vicky.  
In 1966 they made the move to Ipswich, to the family home in Eccles Road.
 
As a mum, she was always busy, she could turn her hand to anything, she made her own wedding dress, bridesmaids dresses, she was always knitting & sewing, she could make curtains and cushions, there isn’t a single person in her family that she didn’t make something for. 
Pat was so very kind and thoughtful and would do anything for her family, she had very traditional values.  Pat would often recall stories from the war time, she had been very affected by those early years.  This had a big influence on the rest of her life.  She hated waste, always worked hard. 
As a family there were many happy holidays spent in their VW
Campervan visiting all sorts of places throughout the 
as Scotland, Wales and Cornwall, camping and fishing making
great memories.
Having most of the family still in London Pat & Bill would
drive back to see them on a regular basis which included
visiting Pat & Bill’s parents, Aunty Shirley and Uncle Frank, and cousins Lorina and Rebecca. 
 
Pat would grow so much fruit and vegetables in the garden and would make all sorts of jams and chutney.  She loved picking wild blackberries, and would make wine, and many a weekend were spent drinking the blackberry wine!!
This was as well as working full time at John Players Cigar factory. 
The factory would give away cigarettes to their staff every week, so she took up smoking as she couldn’t bear to waste them. 
 
Pat retired along with Bill so that they could enjoy time spent together.  They were now living in their bungalow in Holly View in Copdock.
They had a really large garden and her son John had built Pat a hobby room, so she could store all of her pattens and fabric, the things she used for all of her wonderful crafting. 
Pat was an extremely proud Nan to Ashley, Shaun, Holly, Jack, Oliver and Sam.
And great Nan to Nathaniel, Celeste, and Delphi.
There are many wonderful memories of her playing in the garden with them, cooking together and having fun, they brought her great joy. 
Pat even managed to attend Ollie and Abbie’s wedding this year in May, we are very grateful to Connie for getting her there.
Pat enjoyed the pleasures of retirement and she and Bill even
invested in another Campervan.
 
Together they had been happy and contented with their lives, until sadly Pat was diagnosed with dementia and needed to make the move to live at the Lodge.  Bill would visit her nearly every day until sadly he passed away on Christmas eve 2020. 
 
On behalf of Pat’s family, I would like to say a special thank you to all of the staff that looked after her and for the kindness they showed to Bill too.
We take comfort that we know that they are now reunited once again.