Shirley Lorraine Kerry

16 December 1931 - 27 September 2022

Funeral Tribute from granddaughter Tracie Stewart, 7 October 2022, Crick Chapel, Fawkner Cemetery

 

Throughout her life, Shirley enriched the lives of many people.

A wife, mother, daughter, sister, aunty and friend.

To me, Shirley was my beautiful Nana, and to be Shirley's granddaughter was the greatest privilege of my life.

My Nana was a phenomenal woman.

She had such a consistently warm presence and emanated an unmatchable love, kindness and compassion. She was agelessly beautiful, truly intelligent and selflessly kind.

Everyone who knew Nana felt incredibly close to her and formed the most special, meaningful and irreplaceable bonds.   While humble as ever, Nana quietly knew that she had something truly special to share throughout her life; how to love endlessly; how to care beyond realms; how to incomparably inspire and nurture.

Over 90 years, with her own eyes and heart, Nana saw and felt how loved she was and the impact of her presence many times. During many days of her life, her eyes welled with tears of pride, her face beamed with the most genuinely happy smiles, and she initiated and embraced the warmest of hugs.

Nana loved collecting and making the most beautiful dolls, sewing, spending time in the garden, enjoying a good cup of tea, going to the market, trips to Wagga and Rushworth and shopping at Millers and Savers as one of their most dedicated customers.

For the majority of my life, a nightly call with Nana was a ritual which ended with a rendition of 'Somewhere over the Rainbow'. We shared all of the triumphs and tribulations of life, whether it was my day at school or what Nana and Grandpa sold at the market.

For many Christmases, we went to the Ivanhoe Carols by Candlelight and walked around the boulevard, looking at all of the pretty lights and holding hands. On Christmas Eve, we watched the TV specials and on Christmas day often had lunch at Smorgies or Foodstar, for which Nana bought a perfect outfit from Millers just for the occasion.

On our birthdays, Nana wrote the loveliest cards and gifted the sweetest presents; towering an equivalent number of boxes with meaningful gifts in each one. Testament to the person she was, once also hosting a 1st birthday party for my favourite beanie kid 'Bubbles' and my dolls.

In primary school, every Wednesday, Nana waited for us to finish school at Warringal Shopping Centre, where she would hold a seat at Sam's Choice as we crept up behind her to surprise her with the warmest of hugs. Often, inviting other students to join us who were sitting alone.

When I started high school, she picked my first school uniform and was the first person I called each day when I got home. She helped me pick my outfits, solve my problems and shared all of my memories.

On my university graduation day, she wore my graduation gown and loyally guided me and stood by me as I progressed my early career.

As my interest in travel grew, she joined me at the airport, shared my stories and ambitiously encouraged my sense of adventure.

My Nana's love, encouragement and wisdom was powerful like no other. So much so, that I have only ever had to put in a token effort in life as the strength of her current carried me through.

She taught me that being raised in humble beginnings was a strength, not a weakness, and that as long as one stays true to their values, opportunities in life will be limitless.

Nana, I love you so much and I will never, ever forget you.

Everything I achieve and give in life is for you.