Irene Craine

TRIBUTE TO THE LIFE OF IRENE CRAINE

ENTRY MUSIC: ‘BLUEBELL POLKA’, ********** ********

[MUSIC FADES WHEN AUDIENCE IS SETTLED]

Hello and a very warm welcome to you all. You’ve come here today to share in your personal sadness, to bring comfort to one another and most of all to pay tribute to the life of Irene Craine, a devoted wife to Bill, a loving mother to Janet, Andrew and Peter, a loyal sister to Allison and a proud Nana and Great Nana to Paul, Bruce, Bethany and Reuben.

My name's John and I'm a celebrant with Humanists UK. I've been asked to conduct a non-religious ceremony today in accordance with Irene’s wishes. Humanists believe occasions like this should bring people closer together, regardless of any individual creed or personal faith. With this in mind, there will be a period of reflection during our ceremony for you all to remember Irene whether in personal recollection or private prayer. Irene’s story will be told today in the words of those who have known and loved her best – her family. Janet has written the family’s tribute to Irene and I’ll read it to you now.

IRENE’S STORY

“Would you open the window, please?” That was Irene’s opening line when she was asked to speak on the radio about her volunteer work at local hospitals.

She felt it was important to catch the audience’s attention from the start and that was a common request from patients.

Irene Reid was born in Edinburgh in 1932. She had a brother, Hugh, who was eleven years older and a sister, Allison, seven years her senior.

They lived in tenements in Edinburgh and Irene had a happy childhood, despite it being wartime. She went to Brownies and had piano lessons. Many years later, she could still play, off by heart, the pieces she learnt for her piano exams, one of her favourites being “Birds Awakening”. She could really make a piano sing.

Sadly, when Irene was 9, her mum died from heart problems. The two sisters became even closer and Allison “kept house”.

Irene moved on to James Gillespie High School in Edinburgh, which she enjoyed. There were more sad times when she was twelve, when her father died.

Irene then lived with her brother Hugh and his wife Betty. The wider family owned a small farm in Kirkcaldy in Fife and Irene loved helping with the animals. As a little job, Irene helped deliver milk to people’s doorsteps from a horse and cart.

A year later, Irene went to live with her sister Allison, who had already married Arthur and moved to Edenfield in East Lancashire.

Irene thought of Allison’s two children, Grahame and Malcolm, more as brothers than nephews (and of Arthur’s relatives as her own).

She attended Haslingden Grammar School, where she quickly made many new friends – a talent she has had all her life. Her closest friend was Jean and there were double dates: Irene & Ray with Jean and Eddie.

Later, they even went on holiday to the Isle of Man. They were also known to cycle from Edenfield to Blackpool and back. Irene admitted she was keener on sport than the academic side of school life.

After school, Irene trained as a General Post Office Telephonist, based in Rawtenstall Telephone Exchange, connecting calls in the days when one couldn’t dial straight through and the operator would enquire “Number, please?”.

When she had passed the Civil Service Establishment Exam, she was officially a telephonist, on an initial wage of forty six shillings a week – that’s £2.30p in today’s money.

As the staff were moved round to cover for each other, Irene worked at most of the exchanges in East Lancashire — and met many more new friends. During this time, Irene attended evening classes and passed exams in shorthand and typing.

One day, she met Bill Craine, who was from the Isle of Man but on a temporary secondment to the Post Office in East Lancashire. He was a tall, upright man and Irene admired his great intellect.

They fell in love and married in 1955, moving to a flat in Douglas, Isle of Man. Bill was one of eight children so there were plenty more relatives to become acquainted with.

Bill and Irene had a daughter, Janet, a year later. Bill applied for a job as a Tax Officer and was appointed to the Birkenhead office.

So the small family moved to the mainland at the end of 1956, their initial furniture being made from tea chests, which had been used as packing cases for the move.

Irene remained at the same address for the rest of her life.

Andrew was born in 1959, followed by Peter in 1963 making Irene and Bill’s family was complete. Bill used to sew school summer dresses and Irene used to knit the winter mittens, bed socks and jumpers and cardigans.

When the children were young, Irene passed first aid exams and the St John’s Nursing Exam and volunteered one evening a week in the Royal Hospital Volunteer reserve for five years, in local hospitals, similar to the work of an orderly. Hence her radio debut.

Irene must have walked miles every week. She walked the children to primary school and back. However, the family dinner time was at noon, when Mum again walked to collect her children from primary school and back, while Dad popped back in his lunch hour.

After school, most days, Mum and the children walked to a local park or Birkenhead Central Library. A few years later, they would walk once a week to the swimming baths a fair distance away, swim for an hour and then walk home.

At Christmas, the family went to visit the grotto in the basement of Blackler’s Department Store, being enthralled by all the model elves toymaking for Santa.

This would be followed in January by the pantomime in the YMCA. Later in the year, the Gang Show, produced by the local Scout Groups, was a favourite.

The children were encouraged to join the Guiding and Scouting movements and Irene herself undertook training to become Tawny Owl for 2nd Birkenhead North Brownie Pack, later becoming Brown Owl for 4th Birkenhead North.

On Saturdays, there was a day out to a local beach, country park or castle or, occasionally, a brass band concert in a park. What seemed like millions of fish paste sandwiches were made and packed, and later enjoyed with the crunch of sand.

There were trips to see ships in Liverpool Docks – submarines, destroyers and others were often open to the public for a day or two before returning to sea. Tall Ships events were always special occasions.

Irene continued with evening classes, proudly achieving her O’ level in English Language in 1972, followed by Geography, which had always been her favourite school subject.

She became a home help for a lovely 90 year-old couple, then later, through Social Services, for several other ladies. Afterwards came a full-time, two-year Nursery Nurse Course.

Following the course, the students met up twice a year, often at Irene’s house. With this qualification and work-based training, Irene became an audio/vision screener, testing children’s hearing and eyesight in most of the local schools.

Early family holidays were often to visit relatives: staying with Allison, initially in Edenfield, and later in her “boarding houses” – now called bed and breakfasts in Blackpool and Cleveleys; to Bill’s sister Eileen and her husband Joe’s pig farm on the Isle of Man; and (leading to even more peculiar conversations on return to school) to stay with Bill’s eldest sister, Minnie, who was Matron of a mental hospital in Lancashire.

In each location, there were other relatives nearby, where the family would spend an afternoon or evening. Later, there were holidays on canal boats, with the children all helping out with the locks and occasionally being allowed to steer.

In 1968, the family bought two frame tents and from thereon had holidays all over the country – looking in a road atlas, they camped somewhere on nearly every page – but most often near a beach. Trips to Scotland to visit relations were now more manageable and the children met second and third cousins and a great-uncle for the first time.

In the early evening, the family would often start a game of cricket and were joined by children from all over the campsite, along with a few dads.

If it was pouring with rain (not uncommon), then the playing cards came out. They were sturdy tents and, once or twice, the only ones standing on the campsite after a storm.

There was only one trip curtailed by bad weather – when it was doubtful if the fully-loaded car would get out through a severely muddy gateway, if they stayed any longer.

However, it became a bit of a family joke that, wherever the family went – even in the most remote North West corner of Scotland where it was thirty miles to the nearest petrol station – and however unlikely, Irene would stumble across someone from her past, an old friend.

Three hours of chat later, the family would make their way back to the tents.

[PAUSE]

This might be an appropriate moment for us to pause, so you can reflect on the life you’ve shared with Irene and everything she’s meant to you.

Irene and Geoff were big fans of Andre Rieu, so while we listen to him singing the first of two songs today, will you now please take time to remember Irene in your own way, either through personal reflection or private prayer.

REFLECTION: ‘SKATERS WALTZ’, ANDRE RIEU

We can often feel that we live in a world where events occur beyond our control – natural disasters like famine, wars and human tragedy fill our television screens daily.

So it’s especially important that you remember why you’re here today……………to celebrate the life of one truly unique individual, someone who made a real contribution and touched the lives of everyone who knew her.

Sadly, after twenty one years of marriage, Irene was widowed in 1976. She kept in touch with all the relatives from both sides, being an enthusiastic letter writer.

She really appreciated more frequent phone calls and visits from Allison and Arthur, together with much practical support when she had a lot of work done to upgrade and dampproof the house.

Irene learned to drive and took a further course to become an “Advanced Driver”. Also, with much help from Peter, Andrew, and Janet, she eventually learned to use a computer.

She was often heard to complain, “Why do you click the START button when you want to finish?” Although she had written letters and made phone calls to all the relatives and many, many friends over the years, the computer opened up a whole new vista.

At the time, Irene’s favourite website was ‘Friends Reunited’, where she reconnected with friends from her days as a schoolgirl and as a telephonist, often meeting up in person.

There were few local relatives: Bill’s youngest brother John and Brenda lived within twenty miles and she saw them and their now adult children regularly.

Len, Bill’s eldest brother, also popped in often to call and return on the next day’s Manx boat.

Other relations who lived on the Isle of Man or in Ireland often stopped on their way home from a holiday, before catching the boat from Liverpool.

These included Minnie, Bill’s eldest sister, and several nieces and nephews. In due course, Irene welcomed her own grandchildren to the family: Bruce, Paul and Bethany, followed by great grandson Reuben. There are also, several great nieces and great nephews.

Irene remained particularly close to her sister Allison, often sharing a good giggle, and was really pleased to help her out for a few years when she became ill and ultimately resided in a care home.

Irene would go to Rossall and stay for three weeks at a time and considered it a privilege to be able to return the love and care she had received from Allison as an orphan.

Over the years, Irene passed on her love of music to all three children. She could coax a tune out of nearly any instrument handed to her: a violin, a recorder, an ocarina, a small autoharp – really anything.

She never used ‘the dots’ but played by ear. Later in life, she joined three accordion clubs, taking her turn to play a tune.

She enjoyed listening to anything from Strauss Waltzes to brass bands and, a particular favourite, Scottish country dance music.

Hence our unusual music for a funeral when we came in today.

Something else passed on was her love of dogs. Hers were all rescue dogs, mostly of questionable breed.

Over the years there was Toby, Sheena, Jasper and Monty. Jasper, the Springer Spaniel, was with her for many years and people all over the Wirral know her from the dog-walking days.

The council’s dog wardens also came to know them, as they were called to search several times when Jasper and Irene became separated on Bidston Hill or along New Brighton Promenade.

Mum was an active member of the Manx Society and took on the roles of membership secretary and secretary for a while. She was a regular visitor to any Manx people who were spending time in Clatterbridge Hospital.

She used to go to the West Kirby Disabled Swimming club weekly, where she got an award for commitment. She also went to the exercise group and the accordion group weekly.

All of the people in these groups were lovely and Mum used to have a mutual fondness towards them. A member of the accordion group recently remarked on how Mum kept the group together because she loved talking to people.

She used to recruit members by putting ads in the local paper. As a measure of how well mum was liked, the club used to end the evening by playing a rendition of “Goodnight, Irene” en masse.

In her later years, with Irene suffering increasing spinal pain and a variety of other health concerns, her son Peter became her official carer and occasional chauffeur.

Altogether, he has looked after her for five years and she really valued it. In addition to shopping, cooking, cleaning etc — with his help, she could continue to attend her many groups and trips out. She also enjoyed the support of Andrew and “Summer”, who live nearby, and visits from Janet and Bob’s family.

Mum knew Geoff and Rose from waiting outside the school gates for their children. More recently, Mum met Geoff, who was now a widower, at a retirement group lunch.

Mum’s “funny bone” was always tickled by the absurd and the tale goes that Geoff invited, “Call in if you’re passing!” She thought it so funny that no one could really be “passing” a house in a cul-de-sac!

Sure enough, Irene “called in” and that led to four years of loving companionship, which were amongst the happiest times of her life.

They would often go to concerts and folk groups. Among her favourite performers were “Foster and Allan”, who are folk singers from Ireland. Geoff joined some of Irene’s groups, too, such as the exercise group, and they were together most days.

Another absurd story in the family, which was often retold with a chuckle, is from Irene’s fiddling with something electrical and a requesting a “flat battery for this”.

It took a few moments for Peter to realise she was not referring to the battery’s charge but to its shape. A rectangular battery was required.

Looking through the condolence cards and messages, many people knew Irene in several different ways – they had met at a social group and their child had their hearing tested by Irene and they used to accidentally meet when Irene was dog walking.

Several people have commented that Irene was amongst the first to greet them when they were new to a group and “showed them the ropes”.

Other comments were:

“Irene had a delightful straightforward friendliness and was such a positive force in the world.”

“Her determination and pluck shone through her health challenges.”

several commented how lucky she was to have Peter as her carer.

With Irene’s keeping in touch with all the generations, she realised that two separate great-nieces lived only a few miles away from each other in the south of England.

The pair became great friends so one said “It changed my life forever.”

There was another common theme, though, in the messages. “We always used to go out for a meal after a meeting. The society doesn’t meet any more but we kept up the lunches right until Covid.”

Irene loved food! She used to call it her only pleasure, as she didn’t drink and didn’t smoke.

Irene was looking forward to going home after a spell in hospital and a temporary stay in a care home but sadly it wasn’t to be, after she contracted pneumonia.

THE COMMITTAL

We’ve now come to the time in our ceremony when we must say goodbye to the physical presence of Irene.

But this doesn’t mean that your memories of her will fade, any more than your love for the person she’s been to you will diminish.

So please speak often to one another of Irene, remember her many qualities, her individual values and most of all remember the times you shared with her.

For this is how we all live on………….…in the lives of those we have cared for, and who have cared for us.

Will those of you who feel able, now please stand.

We’ve come together today as human beings have done since before recorded time to pay tribute to our dead.

Irene Craine was born into a very different world to the one we share today. Life was harder for ordinary working people than many of us here can even begin to imagine.

Irene also achieved perhaps the greatest feat any individual can accomplish…….............that of raising a loving family and remaining a much loved figure at its heart.

There can be no greater gift or enduring legacy for a human being to leave behind. Our last word today of course belongs to Irene’s family who have this to say about a much loved lady:

"Although Irene will be missed, we are all pleased she is no longer in pain. We’ll have our fond memories for ever.”

[CURTAINS BEGIN TO CLOSE AT THIS POINT]

Now Irene will be returned to the elements which create and regulate all life – the earth, the air and the water. Irene’s memory is committed to your hearts, while the life she shared with you all will remain safe within your minds.

Please be seated.

CLOSING WORDS

We’re now coming to the end of our tribute to Irene’s life. Thank you all for being here today. I’m sure it would have meant a very great deal to Irene. Please take good care of yourselves, and look after one another.

EXIT MUSIC: ‘TIME TO SAY GOODBYE’, ANDRE RIEU