Leonie Best

Eulogy for Leonie Best 1929-2013 Firstly on behalf of Vicki, Andrew and me our thanks for your support over the past week and your attendance today and to celebrate Mum’s life. Born Leonie Healey in Guilford on 18 November 1929 to Oliver and Ivy, Leonie was the third of seven children and the first born in Australia. With sisters Julie and Ann and brothers Paul, Michael, Alec and David she was raised in Parramatta. She often told the story of when she and Michael went to the shops they were laughing so much along the way they often forgot what they we sent to get. She attended Parramatta West Public School where she was Dux and then attended Homebush Girls High School. She left school and became a typist, then met Clive Freame through St Johns Parramatta. They were married 1949 and settled in Pye St Westmead. Mum was there 35 years. In 1952 she gave birth to Jenny followed four years later to the day (9 February) by Vicki. Then followed Andrew in 1958 and Malcolm in 1961. She was a devoted mother and especially supportive of Vicki and Malcolm with their asthma before the modern relievers were available. It was through Westmead Public School she met the ‘ladies’ with whom she remained friends for almost 60 years and some here with us today. I thank them for their friendship and support. As time progressed and children grew up Leonie returned as assistant in her brother Paul’s chemist in Wentworthville where both Vicki and Jenny had also worked. She loved sport and developed an interest in cricket and became a very good scorer for Dad and Andrew’s team. Dad even made her trophy celebrating the number of whites she laundered over a season. More recently she was a Ricky Ponting fan and loved tennis and was a follower of Parramatta Rugby with whom Dad played and as did our close friends the Ferris family. In 1980 Dad became unwell with his kidneys. Mum’s love and support was amazing and they went to Europe before Dad passed away in 1981. But by then she had grandkids and was doting to Karen and Matthew, Michael and Jeremy (who affectionately knew her as little grandma) and in later years Leanne and Paul. She would take them to work or jazz ballet and loved watching their sport when she could. She also became a volunteer Pink Lady at Baulkham Hills Private Hospital for over 15 years and loved to hug the new babies when she got the chance. 1995 she became involved in Baulkham Hills Bowling where she not only became a great bowler but also club president and then patron. The mid 90’s saw Mum support Jenny through the two years illness. No better model could there be for a mother supporting her daughter and her family until Jenny’s untimely passing. More recently supported Andrew through kidney transplant and recovery. The last few years haven’t been easy where spent much time in hospital, had a broken neck and had to adjust to moving from Baulkham Hills after 25 years to Retirement Living then Aged Care. We didn’t the vibrancy smiling positive Leonie as often as we used to but when it was there it was magic. One of her great loves over recent year was to watch ‘Spicks and Specks’ every night not matter where she was. Her final day came suddenly. Vicki and I spoke to Mum before 7 pm last Wednesday but by 10 pm she had fallen victim to aspiration pneumonia and was rushed to Westmead Hospital. It was touching that Andrew, Vicki and I, Karen and Matthew and their partners Jamie and Hayley were able to spend time with her during her final hours. Peacefully at 8:30 am on 4 July she passed. I would like to pay tribute to my brother Andrew who’s love and devotion day in day out over the last 12 months has been phenomenal and it was appropriate that as I looked up to see Mum take her final breath Andrew was there holding her hand. I’ve said much about Mum and will ask Vicki, her brother Alec and grandson Michael to also say a few words. But on a personal note I could ask no more of mother whose undying love and devotion has been and will be with me always. From the son who even in his fifties she referred to as her ‘baby boy’ thank you for everything. Vale Mum. Malcolm Freame 10 July 2013.