Thursday August 16, 2007 Tuesday August 21, 2007
Marsden Road Uniting Church, Carlingford
3.30pm
Ella Muriel Lloyd was a much loved mother and mother in law of Trudy and John, Ross and Carmen, Trevor and Kathy and a cherished grandmother and great grandmother
EULOGY
Ella Muriel Lloyd, affectionately known as ‘Ellie’, Mum, Aunty El and nana, was born on the 1st January, 1914 and her identical twin sister Evvie was born a few hours later. Both girls were born at the country hospital in Lockhart.
That town, Lockhart, is true blue auzzie country and anyone lucky enough to be born in that part of the world is truly blessed.
The girls, Ellie and Evvie lived in a farm-house on the top of a small hill on a sheep and wheat property of 640 acres at a location called Osborne. There were no shops at Osborne, the closest shop to buy milk and bread was at Lockhart 14 miles away.
Ellie had good years her whole life, however she cherished her early childhood years and she loved having a twin sister. They played the usual games of course, one pretending to be the other and they fooled the boys on more than one occasion. Ellie frequently laughed when she recanted the time she and Evvie went out with two boys and they swapped identity and the boys never knew.
Her sister Evvie married Dan Gleeson and stayed on the land while Ellie moved to the big smoke of Sydney. Here she met her future husband and when 30 years of age married Len on 11th May, 1944. Some short time after the wedding Len returned to active war service and served in North Africa and Borneo. He served 602 days of active war service outside of Australia and was released from the Australian Military Forces on 8th January, 1946.
Ellie and Len bought a block of land and built a house in Louis Terrace Hurstville where they raised their three children, Trudy, Ross and Trevor.
Ellie had wonderful experiences in these years, established lasting friendships through her sporting interests – tennis, golf, ten pin bowling and the many card nights with their friends.
Ellie even joined the workforce and was a very successful product demonstrator for Grace Brothers. After 46 years of marriage husband Len died suddenly on 1 August, 1990.
She soon decided to get on with life and with the support of her children sold the home at Hurstville and bought a villa. Yes, it’s the one just up the road from this church.
Yes, what you are thinking is right. Ellie, with her warm smile and gentle ways quickly established more friendships. She became a regular of this church, joined the seniors group of the Epping Community Club and regularly played bingo and bowls, went on bus trips with her friends and regularly used the phone to speak to her friends.
Ellie especially valued the strong friendships formed within this church.
Ellie lived alone in the villa from the age of 76 to 93.
But she was not alone. She had her faith, she had her friendships and most of all she had her family. Her sons and daughter had their children and Ellie was a devoted grandmother who loved her grandchildren.
Then a new generation emerged, the great grandchildren.
Here in Ellie's senior years her broader interests waned, as they naturally do as ones circle of friends becomes smaller, ones mobility decreases and so forth. Her love and support for the family became even more important to her. Trudy's son Bradley presented the first great grandson – Brodie, Trudy's son Trent presented the first great granddaughter – Ava.
Trevor's children have not yet presented any great grandchildren, the eldest Ben only turned 21 last week.
When Ellie was 92 she saw part of her own childhood come to life. Her granddaughter Renee had twins, yes – identical twins. Ellie loved her three children equally, and her grandchildren equally, and of course her great grandchildren equally.
However, her special bond with her identical twin sister gave her a special feeling when identical twins arrived. Her most asked question was ‘How are the twinnies?’
Ellie became unwell about two months ago at the age of 93 years and four months. Until then, she had a health history better than anyone in this church, she had never had an operation and had no medical condition.
During the evening, last Thursday, 16 August without pain, suffering or warning signs Ellie just quietly, peacefully left this earth for her maker.
Everyone who came in contact with Ellie loved her.
Whether it was her admiration of Wally Lewis, support for the Sydney Swans, her friendly smile and easy manner, her cheeky sense of humour, her readiness to be involved or the fact that she never, ever complained, everyone loved her.
We love her. We wish her a beautiful reunion with her twin sister, her other brothers and sisters and her friends who have gone before.
