Lorretta Mavis Taylor

I MET LORRETTA IN 1982 WHEN I WAS 16YRS OLD AND SHE WAS 26YRS OLD. FROM THE VERY FIRST TIME I MET HER,, I KNEW SHE WOULD BE ONE OF THE GREASTEST INFLUENCES IN MY LIFE. SHE WAS THE MOST KIND,CARING,CONSIDERATE, SELFLESS,NONJUDGEMENTAL,PATIENT,FUN LOVING,GENEROUS HUMAN BEING THAT YOU COULD EVER ENCOUNTER IN YOUR LIFE.SHE WAS A WONDERFUL MOTHER TO HER 3 BOYS, AND AN AMAZING DAUGHTER,NANNA, SISTER AND AUNTIE. I FEEL HONOURED AND PRIVELEDGED TO HAVE KNOWN HER. I HAVE SO MANY WONDERFUL MEMORIES OF THE 23YRS THAT I KNEW HER. WE HAD MANY HOLIDAYS WITH HER FAMILY AND MINE, COUNTLESS NIGHTS OUT WITH THE GIRLS, AND MANY DAYS AND NIGHTS JUST SPENT LAUGHING WATCHING TV OR JUST TALKING.WE HAD SAD TIMES ASWELL WITH LIFES TRIBULATIONS,BUT THROUGH EVERTHING LORRETTA ALWAYS SHOWED A STRENGTH AND OPTIMISIM THAT I ADMIRED. NO MATTER WOT WAS GOING ON IN HER LIFE,IF YOU KNOCKED ON HER DOOR,SHE WOULD MAKE YOU FEEL LIKE YOU WERE THE MOST IMPORTANT PERSON IN THE WORLD.LORRETTA KNEW THAT SHE WAS ILL 5MTHS BEFORE SHE DIED,SHE WAS DUE TO START TREATMENT IN SEPT 2005, BUT SHE DIED IN AUGUST 2005. MY HEART BROKE THE DAY SHE DIED AS DID HER FAMILY AND FRIENDS. A CLOSE FRIEND OF HER FAMILY SAID, THAT "LORRETTA WAS THE GLUE THAT STUCK US ALL TOGETHER". EVEN NOW AFTER 3YRS NONE OF US HAVE EVER GOT OVER LOOSING HER,WE HAVE JUST LEARNT TO LIVE WITH THE PAIN THAT WILL NEVER GO AWAY. I USE TO CALL HER MY WISE OWL AS I ALWAYS KNEW SHE WOULD FIND AN ANSWER TO ANY WORRIES OR QUESTIONS I HAD, SHE HELPED ME TO BE POSITIVE WHEN MY LIFE SOMETIMES SEEMED IMPOSSIBLE TO BARE.LORRETTA WOULD FIND A USE FOR ALMOST ANYTHING THAT MOST OF US WOULD JUST THROW AWAY.SHE LOVED A BARGAIN, AND WAS THE LIFE AND SOUL OF EVERY PARY.IT WOULD BE VERY TRUE TO SAY, THAT THE ROOM WOULD LIGHT UP WHEN SHE WALKED INTO IT.WE ALL LOVE AND MISS HER EVERY MINUTE OF EVERY DAY, THERE IS A HOLE IN OUR LIVES AND HEARTS THAT WILL NEVER GO AWAY, UNTIL WE ARE WITH HER AGAIN.I FEEL HER PRESENCE AROUND ME, AND I CAN FEEL HER GUIDING ME AND ADVISING ME STILL.I LOVE YOU FOREVER LORRETTA, THANKYOU FOR BEING MY FRIEND, MEL X X X.