Margaret SIMS

SIMSMargaret1924 - 2013Finally, a sad but blessedly peaceful farewell early on Saturday to the toughest person we have ever known. An amazing 22 years she spent soldiering on alone after losing her beloved Noel, coping remarkably with her blindness and a long slow physical decline, always with her trademark mix of good humour, love, resilience and ever feisty independence.In better days a state netballer and top high school sprinter, committed teacher, avid reader and master of the cryptic crossword. An accomplished golfer and committed club member at Huntingdale and Waverley, including stints as lady handicapper and club captain. A wonderful and experimental cook ahead of her time, and even to the very end renowned at Goonawarra Nursing Home for demanding her nightly glass (or more!) of fine red wine to share with her family.A loving and much loved wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother, who took the greatest pride, interest and pleasure in the experiences and achievements of her family.Thanks to her many past and present friends and others who touched her life. First, to those who helped her to live independently until last July. From her kind and caring neighbours, especially Lana and her extended family to the many kind staff and traders at her much loved Mount Waverley Square (especially IGA and their caring delivery man, the ANZ bank, optometrist Peter, hairdresser Serge, Katies, Waverley Woman, Fella Hamilton, Beovich the chemist, the former Betta Electrical and the bakeries), to her very kind young doctor Conway, who treated her with respect and compassion and dropped in whenever needed, to her special taxi driver Russell, who not only got her safely to and from her various appointments but adopted her as a surrogate grandmother for his own kids. More recently to the many kind and caring staff at Goonawarra who tried to make her final months a little less miserable than they otherwise would have been.Love always _ Rob and Helen, Shaun and Tori, Luke and Chris, John and Jane, Peter and Emma, David and Sam, Michael and Kim and great grandkids Cohen and Carter, Oliver and Lilly.Peace at last after a life well lived