Yesterday, 7th April, I lost my best friend, my lovely wife Val. She died after a long battle with cancer in Tarragal House, Erina, NSW. The last 9 months have been very difficult and particularly the final two hellish days but I am so fortunate to have many great memories of Val when things were rosy and she always had a smile.
I met Val in my first year at university. We were married 4 years later and our marriage lasted over 51 years. Val was mother to our two beautiful children, Lisa and Toby and grandmother to Ellie, Scarlett, Poppy, Otto and Felix.
Val was very creative and she was also a great cook with shelves full of cookbooks and a kitchen full of gadgets. She was always well informed eagerly devouring the newspapers and business and news magazines. Even in her final days she was anxious for me to read her the Sydney Morning Herald, The Guardian and the New York Times from my iPad.
The beautiful house in which we have lived since 2008 is very much Val's creation. She was a lady of many talents.
Above all else she was a great traveller and no sooner had she returned home from one trip than she was thinking about the next one. We are so fortunate to have done so much travelling together at home and overseas over the years.
Although she has not been home for 6 months and I should have adjusted to her absence by now the house seems even more empty today. And, of course, beautiful Phoebe, our Himalayan cat died three weeks ago and her absence is compounding the sense of emptiness. It is a time of great sadness.
Dear John,
ReplyDeleteWe've kept in touch over the last difficult months and I know how much stress you, Toby and Lisa have been under. I never met Val (nor, of course, have we met), but I can see how close you were and how much you will miss her. My sincere condolences and good wishes for the future from all at Macfilos.com. Mike
Dear John,
ReplyDeleteSuch a lovely tribute for dear Val. We are so glad we were able to meet her and get together a couple of times over the years. We have fond memories. We are grateful for Val's friendship and her love of travel which brought us all together! Our condolences to your children and grandchildren. May the many memories you all share comfort you during this very sad time. Fondly, Peg and Dan Fults
John, our sincere condolences to you and your family for your loss. A beautiful tribute and you have so many wonderful memories over the years that you spent together. What an amazing person and what a remarkable life Val had lived. We are sharing in your sadness and both Donna and I are thinking of you during this difficult time. God bless Adam, Donna, Eric & Chelsea.
ReplyDeleteOn behalf of all the Butts in the UK, so sorry to hear about Vals passing. She was very much loved particularly by her Cousin John and his Wife Janet who are unable to respond in person due to complex health reasons, but on their behalf I know Val was close to their heart. Mum and Dad had very happy memories of their time spent with Val and John in Australia and they always enjoyed her visits to the UK, often visiting galleries and National Trust houses. Right to the very end Val stayed in close touch with my Parents and sent them cards and letters informing them of the many trips and holidays away which was a great encouragement to my parents and always touched their hearts. As a family we will have ongoing memories of Val, she had a gift for arts and crafts and we have many Christmas decorations that she made and dated year by year to put on the tree. These will always be treasured and she will leave a big hole and very much be missed.
ReplyDeleteJohn, I'm so sorry to hear of Val's passing. I sadly never met this wonderful lady but she somehow she will always live on in your deep love for her. Thinking of you. Lui xxx
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