I hope you don't mind, but it's the end of an era in my family tonight.
Mum's youngest sister Ethel, 82, passed away tonight from a massive heart attack. She was the last of Mum's 10 siblings.
The last time I saw her was in 2010, at the 100th anniversary of the family property. She was always the most colourful of the siblings, drinking, smoking and probably still swearing like a trooper til the end.
RIP Aunty Ethel, with your siblings, husband and daughter.
RIP Ethel and condolences to you and the family Beth.
Beth54 said
04:27 AM May 15, 2013
Duh wrote:
RIP Ethel and condolences to you and the family Beth.
Thanks Vic.
Grams said
04:34 AM May 15, 2013
Indulge all you like.
RIP Ethal. Ghee she looks great in the picture for her 100th Birthday. At least you know she had a full and much loved life.
herbie said
04:38 AM May 15, 2013
condolances to you and your extended family. But i am sure you all have some remarkable memories of this lady that sounded a whole lot of fun.
dazren said
04:44 AM May 15, 2013
Condolences to you and all the family Beth,
Colourful, drinking, smoking, and swearing eh ?? I had an Aunty just like that, and what wonderful memories that type of lady can leave behind --- RIP-Ethal
ps Grams !! Ethal was 82 ----- and was at the 100th birthday of the family property
Sheba said
05:03 AM May 15, 2013
Thinking of you Beth.
Sheba.
Gerty Dancer said
05:05 AM May 15, 2013
What a good example she set Beth, enjoying life as she chose! I'd like to say Rest in Peace, but would she rather rest with a party going on? My sympathy to you Beth and the rest of her family
Grams said
05:32 AM May 15, 2013
dazren wrote:
Condolences to you and all the family Beth,
Colourful, drinking, smoking, and swearing eh ?? I had an Aunty just like that, and what wonderful memories that type of lady can leave behind --- RIP-Ethal
ps Grams !! Ethal was 82 ----- and was at the 100th birthday of the family property
Oops my bad...
BohemianGypsy said
05:48 AM May 15, 2013
My sincere condolences Beth to you and your extended family.
Drinking and smoking hey. . . .both of those things extremely bad for our health to they tell us and will lead to early death hey. Personally Aunty Ethel aged 82 can tell them they got it all wrong bless her. I think she got it right!!!
Michelle
barina said
05:59 AM May 15, 2013
What a great life she must have had...condolences to you and your family...
Beth54 said
06:04 AM May 15, 2013
Thanks all. Actually, you're right Gerty, she won't be resting.
I should clarify something..although drinking, smoking and swearing isn't unusual, it was for the women of this family. Mt grandfather was quite strict but he couldn't rein in this wild child.
Beth54 said
06:16 AM May 15, 2013
She does look good in that photo, and she was still as nimble as ever, and full of cheek.
The saddest part of her life was watching her older daughter, over a period of seven years, die from a brain tumour. She never really got over that, understandably. So she would now be reunited with Kerry, as well as her husband Jim.
Thanks for the indulgence.
biggles said
11:16 AM May 15, 2013
I'm happy to share your time with you Beth .. I too can relate !
Jon
Evie n Rhys said
11:57 AM May 15, 2013
My condolences Beth, I'm glad she left you with wonderful memories. Another star up there for us to look up at in this big beautiful sky. Its my way of feeling close to those I've lost. Aunty Ethel will always be watching over you. Tess
jules47 said
01:53 PM May 15, 2013
Condolences Beth - that's the way to go out - party till the end!
johnq said
02:17 PM May 15, 2013
Beth54 wrote:
Thanks all. Actually, you're right Gerty, she won't be resting.
I should clarify something..although drinking, smoking and swearing isn't unusual, it was for the women of this family. Mt grandfather was quite strict but he couldn't rein in this wild child.
Condolences Beth.
Smoking was seen by modern women of Ethel's time as the ultimate expression of individuality and liberation. In the lexicon of feminists, empowerment. A glass ceiling shattered. The feminists don't always proffer good, wholesome guidance, as is also apparent from the present day encouragement of young women to raunch. Smoking by Australian women jumped enormously during WW2 and that fact would have some connection with their freedom from their men serving overseas and the availability of cigarettes from US army canteens.
You can trace the same history for alcohol and note the big jumps in fag and booze use by young women in the seventies and recently (eg raunch culture).
Your Ethel was adventurous. She lived a long life nonetheless and as part of a loving, supportive extended family if you are representative of all. RIP Ethel. Whoops, knees up Ethel and liven up those boring angels up there.
-- Edited by johnq on Wednesday 15th of May 2013 02:19:24 PM
GaryKelly said
03:17 PM May 15, 2013
Yes, can't help admiring the cheeky ones, and she sounds like she was a hoot. RIP (although I'm not sure she'll be too happy about the peace bit hehe).
Beth54 said
07:51 PM May 15, 2013
I've just heard that the funeral is on Monday in Taroom, Qld, so looks like Lucy, Lulu and I are going on a trip after all. Not the most pleasant reason to go for a trip, but I'll be pleased to get 'out there' for a little while anyway. And catch up with a bunch of cousins too.
Thanks again.
Travel Bug said
09:56 PM May 15, 2013
My sincerest condolences Beth.
Thinking of you.
Pam.
mongrel said
10:00 PM May 15, 2013
Sadened by your loss..Our condolences as well Beth....Alan and Adele...
justcruisin01 said
10:35 PM May 15, 2013
Our thoughts are with you Beth.
J & L.
neilnruth said
10:58 PM May 15, 2013
Take care Beth as you travel to celebrate a life that won't be forgotten.
Beth54 said
12:46 AM May 16, 2013
When my sister rang me to tell me it was in Taroom, I went straight into panic mode...she said, 'don't panic, I can hear it in your voice'. She knows me too well. I was with my good friend at the time, so when I got off the phone, I explained it to her, and she helped me with the logistics. And then I realised that I have hospital appointments on Monday and Wednesday, so again she guided me... once we realised they weren't urgent ones, she suggested I re-schedule them. The calm voice of reason. Always helpful at times like this.
Panic in these sort of situations in pretty normal for me, but because I've been unwell, and haven't been away in the caravan for awhile, I was worrying if I could manage it. So I'll go out tomorrow and check the van, do any clean-ups that it needs, kill some ants if need be, maybe the grandson could come over and help me.
It's 466kms from there to Taroom, so I'll leave Saturday with a stopover at Bowenville Reserve or Chinchilla Weir, depending on how I feel. I'll stay in the CP in Taroom for two nights, and maybe do a meandering trip home. I expect the nights to be cold, but I'll be prepared for that.
So if anyone's in the area, give me a hoy.
Thanks again for your condolences.
herbie said
03:38 AM May 16, 2013
Beth54 wrote:
When my sister rang me to tell me it was in Taroom, I went straight into panic mode...she said, 'don't panic, I can hear it in your voice'. She knows me too well. I was with my good friend at the time, so when I got off the phone, I explained it to her, and she helped me with the logistics. And then I realised that I have hospital appointments on Monday and Wednesday, so again she guided me... once we realised they weren't urgent ones, she suggested I re-schedule them. The calm voice of reason. Always helpful at times like this.
Panic in these sort of situations in pretty normal for me, but because I've been unwell, and haven't been away in the caravan for awhile, I was worrying if I could manage it. So I'll go out tomorrow and check the van, do any clean-ups that it needs, kill some ants if need be, maybe the grandson could come over and help me.
It's 466kms from there to Taroom, so I'll leave Saturday with a stopover at Bowenville Reserve or Chinchilla Weir, depending on how I feel. I'll stay in the CP in Taroom for two nights, and maybe do a meandering trip home. I expect the nights to be cold, but I'll be prepared for that.
So if anyone's in the area, give me a hoy.
Thanks again for your condolences.
A lot of upgrade has taken place at the c/v park at Taroom to cater for all the oil and gas workers out that way.So maybe a phn call might be an idea,due to the upgrade the price now might be big bucks.Just a though thats all.
RegardsHerbie.
Beth54 said
04:07 AM May 16, 2013
Thanks for the headsup Herbie.
neilnruth said
04:19 AM May 16, 2013
Consider it an unplanned mini holiday Beth.
Beth54 said
05:59 PM May 16, 2013
neilnruth wrote:
Consider it an unplanned mini holiday Beth.
That's what I thought too Ruth. It'll do my lungs some good to breath some lovely country air too. Thanks Aunty Ethel.
Travel Bug said
08:14 PM May 16, 2013
Safe travels Beth.
Beth54 said
09:24 PM May 16, 2013
Travel Bug wrote:
Safe travels Beth.
Thanks Pam. I might stop in on my way home. I'll text you when the time comes.
I hope you don't mind, but it's the end of an era in my family tonight.
Mum's youngest sister Ethel, 82, passed away tonight from a massive heart attack. She was the last of Mum's 10 siblings.
The last time I saw her was in 2010, at the 100th anniversary of the family property. She was always the most colourful of the siblings, drinking, smoking and probably still swearing like a trooper til the end.
RIP Aunty Ethel, with your siblings, husband and daughter.
Thanks Vic.
RIP Ethal. Ghee she looks great in the picture for her 100th Birthday. At least you know she had a full and much loved life.
condolances to you and your extended family. But i am sure you all have some remarkable memories of this lady that sounded a whole lot of fun.
Condolences to you and all the family Beth,
Colourful, drinking, smoking, and swearing eh ?? I had an Aunty just like that, and what wonderful memories that type of lady can leave behind --- RIP-Ethal
ps Grams !! Ethal was 82 ----- and was at the 100th birthday of the family property
Thinking of you Beth.
Sheba.
I'd like to say Rest in Peace, but would she rather rest with a party going on?
My sympathy to you Beth and the rest of her family
Oops my bad...
My sincere condolences Beth to you and your extended family.
Drinking and smoking hey. . . .both of those things extremely bad for our health to they tell us and will lead to early death hey. Personally Aunty Ethel aged 82 can tell them they got it all wrong bless her. I think she got it right!!!
Michelle
What a great life she must have had...condolences to you and your family...
Thanks all. Actually, you're right Gerty, she won't be resting.
I should clarify something..although drinking, smoking and swearing isn't unusual, it was for the women of this family. Mt grandfather was quite strict but he couldn't rein in this wild child.
She does look good in that photo, and she was still as nimble as ever, and full of cheek.
The saddest part of her life was watching her older daughter, over a period of seven years, die from a brain tumour. She never really got over that, understandably. So she would now be reunited with Kerry, as well as her husband Jim.
Thanks for the indulgence.
I'm happy to share your time with you Beth .. I too can relate !
Jon
Tess
Condolences Beth.
Smoking was seen by modern women of Ethel's time as the ultimate expression of individuality and liberation. In the lexicon of feminists, empowerment. A glass ceiling shattered. The feminists don't always proffer good, wholesome guidance, as is also apparent from the present day encouragement of young women to raunch. Smoking by Australian women jumped enormously during WW2 and that fact would have some connection with their freedom from their men serving overseas and the availability of cigarettes from US army canteens.
You can trace the same history for alcohol and note the big jumps in fag and booze use by young women in the seventies and recently (eg raunch culture).
Your Ethel was adventurous. She lived a long life nonetheless and as part of a loving, supportive extended family if you are representative of all. RIP Ethel. Whoops, knees up Ethel and liven up those boring angels up there.
-- Edited by johnq on Wednesday 15th of May 2013 02:19:24 PM
I've just heard that the funeral is on Monday in Taroom, Qld, so looks like Lucy, Lulu and I are going on a trip after all. Not the most pleasant reason to go for a trip, but I'll be pleased to get 'out there' for a little while anyway. And catch up with a bunch of cousins too.
Thanks again.
My sincerest condolences Beth.
Thinking of you.
Pam.
Sadened by your loss..Our condolences as well Beth....Alan and Adele...
Our thoughts are with you Beth.
J & L.
When my sister rang me to tell me it was in Taroom, I went straight into panic mode...she said, 'don't panic, I can hear it in your voice'.
She knows me too well. 
I was with my good friend at the time, so when I got off the phone, I explained it to her, and she helped me with the logistics. And then I realised that I have hospital appointments on Monday and Wednesday, so again she guided me... once we realised they weren't urgent ones, she suggested I re-schedule them. The calm voice of reason. Always helpful at times like this. 
Panic in these sort of situations in pretty normal for me, but because I've been unwell, and haven't been away in the caravan for awhile, I was worrying if I could manage it. So I'll go out tomorrow and check the van, do any clean-ups that it needs, kill some ants if need be, maybe the grandson could come over and help me.
It's 466kms from there to Taroom, so I'll leave Saturday with a stopover at Bowenville Reserve or Chinchilla Weir, depending on how I feel. I'll stay in the CP in Taroom for two nights, and maybe do a meandering trip home. I expect the nights to be cold, but I'll be prepared for that.
So if anyone's in the area, give me a hoy.
Thanks again for your condolences.
A lot of upgrade has taken place at the c/v park at Taroom to cater for all the oil and gas workers out that way.So maybe a phn call might be an idea,due to the upgrade the price now might be big bucks.Just a though thats all.
RegardsHerbie.
Thanks for the headsup Herbie.
That's what I thought too Ruth. It'll do my lungs some good to breath some lovely country air too. Thanks Aunty Ethel.
Safe travels Beth.
Thanks Pam. I might stop in on my way home. I'll text you when the time comes.