Tributes for Carol

So sorry to hear of the loss of Carol. All her posts were an inspiration to everyone. Thoughts and condolences with Carol's family and with her many friends.

RIP Carol
My thoughts are with her family may they find comfort in their sad loss

To Carol's family - a special lady has been in our lives and some of her essence and joie de vivre has rubbed off on all of us she touched and connected with. So much more of that energy and essence is embedded in those closest to her - her family. Her legacy is here in the comments and messages and tributes, and boy hasn't she touched a lot of lives! If we all take just a little bit of Carol's positive energy into our own lives and the way we interact with others, the world will be enriched. Thank you Carol - I hardly knew you like some other gransnetters did as we only made contact recently, but you touched me with your friendly, helpful responses and your warmth. That's what I shall treasure.

condolences

What a wise and beautiful light has been extinguished. She possessed that rare ability to mix grace, wit , intelligence and strength . What a loss to gnetters and her family .

I think it would be lovely at least to collect these for her family Maniac.

yogagran You took the words out of my mouth.a very apt name.
Greatnan indeed! She made us laugh,she made us think, inspired us,challenged us ,supported and comforted us.My life was enriched by knowing her - even just online.We shared experiences of growing up in Lancs. Sorry I wasn’t able to meet her at NW meetup last Dec.
As recently as 7th Oct she posted a message with a phrase so helpful to me personally that I copied and posted into my diary.
She could have written a book about her adventures.
I do hope we will be able to keep –and maybe publish - some of her writings-including the jokes!

I feel honoured to have known her, and proud to think of myself as her friend [albeit an internet one]. Did plan to visit her one day . I think having her in our lives has been an inspiration to us all.

Her GN user name was so apt, she certainly was a Greatnan

Sending condolences to all friends and family.

What wonderful sentiments - and so apt! Thank you, ladies!

nellie & when good words. because Carol would have smiled!

On, yes Nellie

And this:

“Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming "Wow! What a Ride!”

― Hunter S. Thompson

This poem's sentiments might suit Carol (excusing the Gender)

_Let Me Die A Youngman's Death_

Let me die a youngman's death
not a clean and inbetween
the sheets holywater death
not a famous-last-words
peaceful out of breath death

When I'm 73
and in constant good tumour
may I be mown down at dawn
by a bright red sports car
on my way home
from an allnight party

Or when I'm 91
with silver hair
and sitting in a barber's chair
may rival gangsters
with hamfisted tommyguns burst in
and give me a short back and insides

Or when I'm 104
and banned from the Cavern
may my mistress
catching me in bed with her daughter
and fearing for her son
cut me up into little pieces
and throw away every piece but one

Let me die a youngman's death
not a free from sin tiptoe in
candle wax and waning death
not a curtains drawn by angels borne
'what a nice way to go' death

Roger McGough

Oh Pens - that is so moving

I had not met Carol face to face but, like others, I did feel we were real friends based on our almost daily communications on GN, FB & PMs. We shared a similar philosophy on life as well as a similar sense of humour!
She was such an interesting person because she lived her life to the full. She had had her own challenges and troubles to overcome but outwardly she remained upbeat. Typically she was very thoughtful, sensitive and supportive to me when I was managing a difficult personal situation. Her support for a particular cause close to my heart also endeared her to me. I admired a great deal about Carol but what shone through stronger than her feisty approach to life, her political ideals, her atheism and her jokes was the huge love she had for her daughters, grandchildren, great grandchildren and her sister. Her family gave her enormous joy and her attitude to her family reminded me of these chorus words from the lovely lullaby, Everything‘s Possible by Roy Bailey :
Oh you can be anybody you want to be
You can love whomever you will
You can travel any country that your hear leads
And know that I will love you still
You can live by yourself, you can gather friends round
You can choose one special one
But the only measure of your words and your deeds
Will be the love you leave behind when you’re done.

Carol has left a whole lot of love behind. What a great legacy. I will miss her x

My eldest granddaughter read that poem at her grandad's funeral.

Very sad news. Condolences to Carol's family and sympathy towards all those Gransnetters who knew Greatnan personally.

Sorry, so tired - that was for soop's kitchen.

bags leaving you some flapjacks and refreshment in case you nip in when we're not around.

A one off

I will always remember when I was supposed to be writing a report and avoiding it by sneaking a look on gransnet. I made the mistake of admitting it and a post bounced back saying 'nightowl - just do it'. Which of course, I did!

I shall always think of her as the headmistress on my shoulder!

The poem that Phoenix posted on page 2 was read at my beloved Dad's funeral, and it was very apt for him, and comforting for us who loved and missed him so. I think it is very apt for Greatnan also.

What a wonderful varied life she has led, she really lived life to the full, in a kind and generous way, and her family were obviously everything to her. If she were my Nan/Mum/Greatnan I would be so proud to know how many lives she has touched, and how well thought of she is, by people who have only "met" her virtually. That is a very special and rare type of person.

This time is so terribly hard for her family and close friends, but I hope at some time in the future they will take some comfort in knowing how well loved she was by others too, a very special lady who will be greatly missed by all.

A brave an indomitable lady - my condolences to her family. I remember a recent post of hers expressing her delight at her daughter's new house in NZ with room for her. How sad for them that will never be but she died doing what she loved most, perhaps thinking of a new adventure to come. RIP Carol.

Your words earlier, phoenix which are so apposite remind me of the lovely poems Scarlet 123 (?) posted earlier, especially "Autumn".
I also like this:

"Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there. I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry;
I am not there, I did not die."
Carol will remain with us in her words and in our memories and will live on in her wonderful daughters and grandchildren.

She was------------Carol!