JANICE I’m not quite sure where to start There’s so much I’d like to say So I’ll start at the very beginning When I met Janice for the first time one day I think it was about 16 years ago I knew nothing about her at all Who was she? where had she come from? She seemed to know what to do, I recall She was there to chair a conference I remembered feeling quite wary Should I be cautious? she smiled She was OK, she seemed ordinary From that first meeting I realized I had no need to worry because She grasped difficult situations Showed how caring and human she was Her work as a chair was respected She was firm when she needed to be As she knew her primary focus Was on the safety of the child, you see Though we never worked in the same office We soon became good friends Meeting for coffee, taking turns to pay Discussing what food we would both recommend Our friendship continued for many years We laughed, got annoyed and frustrated At the systems and the limitations How some thinking was so outdated Then a few years ago I retired Left the Local Authority behind We spoke less, as frequently happens But she was often still in my mind Sadly last year Janice texted me She said she had bad news to tell It was very upsetting to listen To know that she was so unwell Our contact increased, I would visit We would smile again, cream cakes on the table I was in awe of her strength To stay positive, when she felt able She placed in me her total trust Shared her worries, her thoughts and her fears And through all of her deep emotions She shared herself, she also shared tears Throughout her difficult illness She still made time for some laughter But her greatest love in the whole wide world Was the love that she had for her daughter I have learned lots of things from you Janice Dignity, strength and great courage too Humility, a sense of acceptance For all of these things, I want to thank you. Sue Withers

As another day does dawn Thoughts of you and still I mourn To say your gone I just can’t Gone my lovely funny Aunt To say goodbye I nearly broke With words of luv to you I spoke A sigh a cry I call your name My life will never be the same I waited to see you I wanted to say Please come back don’t go away It’s not fair and just not right That gone are you and out of sight But in my heart you’ll always be A very special part of me My Aunt so lovely as can be My fantastic Jannie Waney Sweet dreams Jannie luv u to the moon and back Jussie. Xxxxxxxxxxx

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