My mother Iris Lawley went into a residential care home 3 years ago after leaving hospital after having a fall. Previously she had a stroke which affected her mobility. Mum was a strong lady who in her younger days was a soprano who wanted to pursue her career but having a family she gave it up to concentrate on us. Mum appeared in a show under her stage name Annette Lear called stairway to the stars where Valerie Masters appeared and who then went on to make it in the music industry, this took place at Poplar civic theatre.
Through out her life my mum never gave up singing to us as children she sang to us regularly. Her voice was beautiful and continued singing into her latter years.
Sadly Mum lost my brother who was 4years old in 1962 to an accident where he was killed by a lorry.
Mum went through years of depression but still managed to sing and entertain people around her.
The care home she was in is a lovely residential home run by a very lovely manager. They had cocktail evenings, entertainment coming in there and Christmas parties where everyone was welcome. Right till the end of her life the carers would sing to her and bless her she tried to sing back which was proved difficult as she was suffering from covid 19 and her breathing was getting worse.
On the GPs recommendation, mum never went to hospital as he stressed this could have a detrimental affect on her and she may not survive.
As a family we decided to keep her in the place she was use to was nursed in her room till the end.
During lockdown we saw mum through a window and she heard us but was not responding well. 14th April Mum was worse and I wore PPE equipment and held her hand played her favourite tune Alfie by Cilla Black and watched as she was faiding away. I left at 4.30pm she died at 5.50pm.
As mum loved music I want the residents and staff to remember her through singing by purchasing a karaoke machine, Mum would have love that. All money will go to Westport Care centre, Limehouse.