I don’t like funerals.

It’s lovely here today; Dinah would have loved the sunshine and flowers. I know a lot of people these days stipulate family flowers only and donations if desired. I’m glad that this time the family didn’t.

Flowers were one of the things Dinah loved the most and she was very talented at flower arranging. In fact anything ‘arty’. Whenever it was anyone’s birthday she gave a gift of flowers or sweets and a home made card. Usually the cards were very intricate in design and must have taken her hours to make. She was a generous person and often came to work with sweets and home made cakes, but I think what most people remember about her was her ability to listen. Not just the staff but also the kids.

Listening is a skill that very few people ever really get the hang of - the ability to listen to others with just the odd word of encouragement or show of understanding without trying to put your own feelings and needs into the conversation. Just be there for the other person, very few people are altruistic. So if I was asked to describe Dinah as simply as possible I think I would say she was good listener.

Today she was remembered by not just her family but a wide circle of friends and acquaintances, she'll be sadly missed by all.