Eileen was a very special lady, who lived a full life with much joy but also some great sadness and difficult times during her life too.  

Born in Pinkneys Green, near Maidenhead, she was younger sister to Cyril and older sister to Jenny. Three of four children born to my maternal grandparents - The Brenner's.  Their older child Joan died with her baby in childbirth.   

Married twice to Murray Cox (my dad) and then to Stewart Simmonds my step dad, she was relatively content yet neither made her life easy for different reasons.

Mum was kind, gentle and considerate but also incredibly strong.  She was loved in her local community when married to Stewart and living in Farmoor.   

Her love of flowers was as mine is and all of nature too.  Having worked as a cinema usherette when we three children were young to provide a holiday to Wales each year, we moved from Buckinghamshire to Oxfordshire and had a village shop where mum was a florist too.      Eventually mum and dad split up and divorced and after that mum met Stewart and they married in 1971.   

Mum's floristry skills saw her make funeral tributes for Sir Winston Churchill and a bouquet for Princess Anne when she came to Farmoor Reservoir.  Perhaps her proudest moments. 

A rest since 2013 overlooking The Solent from the cliffs of The Isle Wight, my sister and I visit every year with our husbands. 

Mum was a very special lady and I am proud to be her daughter.  If I share half of her wonderful qualities I will be thrilled with my life.