Darling Mommy, you would have been 100 years old today. Happy Heavenly Birthday. Love and miss you always.

Happy birthday Ouma <3

Love you always my mommy.

Mrs C. Thank you for your son, my brother-in-arms. Thank you also for gracing this world with your patience. I can truly say that I never heard a mean or disparaging remark from you. How many people can live a life with so much acceptance for the status quo? Not many.
You are at peace now and your memory lives with us as an example of tolerance, strength and humility in correct proportion.
Finis Coronat Opus - The end crowns the work.

Hearing the ‘Quality Street’ wrapping crinkle during those louder moments on TV... then the fake coughs concealing confectionary covert consumptions <3

Finding ‘Smackaroos’ hidden around the house like forgotten squirrel treasures, sometimes months after your visits...

#OumaMoments #BlancheStyle

Love and miss you my precious mommy. 5 years and it's still so hard to look at photos of your last days. It's a pain and grief I will carry always. I'm still waiting for it to get easier.

This year, 4 years on from the day you left us mommy, I celebrated you by watching a program on Anne of Green Gables. How you loved those stories of orphan Anne, Marilla and Mathew :) I'm still not brave enough to look at the photos of the last few weeks you were with us though - maybe next year. Love and miss you always. xox

Dearest Momma,
3 years now. I celebrate your life with joy and loving memories.

Fond memories of our beautiful Ouma... So many lives touched and I’m so grateful for having you in my life. Taking a moment to reflect on the good times. <3

It’s still too hard mom too sore too painful to dwell on you memory. Ek het jou lief my mammie. ❤️❤️

My momma ek is so jammer. I wish I could recover the hours I wasted. I took you for granted. Missing you so very very much. Am glad the pain you went though is over. Still feeling bereft that I wasn’t there to sit with you, pray with you, sing to you, try to put your focus on something other than your pain and discomfort. It’s over now and can’t go back and undo all the pain I caused you when I was younger. Love you my mommy. Ek her jou lief

Missing you today Ouma... can’t believe it’s been two years already.

Beautiful day out at Muriwai 'visiting' mom with Just, Pauline and Terry. Another year gone without you Momma. Love and miss you forever.

Missing you so much today and everyday Ouma xxx

Happy Birthday Ouma.

Mommy I miss you no words can express that. I love you

A year ago today this beautiful person went home to heaven. Miss you so much mom. xxx

Two months now since you left us mom. I still seem to have a bottomless well of tears. Logic tells me time will ease the overwhelming loss, but I miss you every day. xx

Thinking of Blanche today on her birthday
Leona

I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to tell my mother how special she was to me while she was alive. I found this letter from 2008 among her papers last week.

TO BLANCHE COCHRANE
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA

My Darling Mommy

As a little girl I can always remember feeling warm and loved and safe. Even though we didn’t have much money you gave me the privilege of having a dancing dream with years and years of excellent training & opportunity. All those costumes you sewed and shows you sat through! Thank you – those years taught me that I could have a dream. They gave me a love of the fine arts that has made my life rich.

To me you have always been a woman of strong character who sticks to her principles. You have never had the luxury of falling apart when life has been hard, but have always courageously dragged yourself up and kept going. You faced tragedy with inner strength. You faced poverty with dignity. You did the best you could with what you had. What an example that has been to your children! You taught us strength of character, decency and determination. 

Because of you I have also grown to be a strong woman who sticks to her principles. I believe I can achieve anything if I try hard enough. Mostly, people see me as kind, loving and genuine. That’s because you did an amazing job of raising me.
Often over the years people have asked me who I admire the most – who has influenced my life the most. Don’t be surprised! I always say ‘My Mom – she is the strongest and most loving person I have ever known.’

I miss you. I miss talking to you. I miss hugging you. I miss laughing and crying with you. I love you and I’m so proud to be your daughter.

Thank you for being my Mom.

FROM SHANNON RATTEY
AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND
AUGUST 2008

Goodbye Mrs C. Thank you for your son, my brother-in-arms. Thank you also for gracing this world with your patience. I can truly say that I never heard a mean or disparaging remark from you. How many people can live a life with so much acceptance for the status quo? Not many.
You are at peace now and your memory lives with us as an example of tolerance, strength and humility in correct proportion.
Finis Coronat Opus - The end crowns the work.

The first time I met Mouma I was 16 and she was my boss. I soon learnt that she wont stand for extended tea breaks or rule breaking. The next time I met her I was applying for quite a different position; that of girlfriend and then wife of her grandson, Pierre and later as the mother of her two great grandsons, Jovan and Keanu. I think she approved because what followed was a relationship where she always made me feel part of the family. I was priviledged to count on her genuine, honest and direct advice and often comfort when I needed it. I will miss Mouma's support, encouragement and especially our 'conspirational' chats on her bed. I wholeheartedly believe that she will be part of the 'possy' when the Angels ride into town to fetch me. Until then.
Liesl Spies ❤️❤️❤️

Ouma will be remembered by me for her lovely warm smile, and her warm touch, she would often stroke my hand or cheek when we sat and chatted. She is at peace now, and free from pain. My thoughts are with her devoted family and friends.

Through the tears and the sadness of dark days which lie ahead, the sun will shine again and the warmth will return to our hearts. Although you have gone, we each carry a piece of you around with us everyday. Past down from generation to generation a part of us originates from you. We are bound to this unconditionally, we will carry on your spirit, your aura, your soul and your very existence through the family tree you created and sadly left behind. Your memory will live on in this generation and many future generations to come. We will miss you, we may be sad but we also cheer and applaud you for being a special person and we are fortunate enough to be connected to such an amazing and beautiful lady. Our love always Ouma

We only met once many years ago when Georgina was a baby but you left a lasting impression. So glad I had the opportunity to meet such a warm compassionate person. You will be missed x

My mommy You are fore ever missed and loved. Loosing you is the most painful event I have ever faced. I pray for every one left behind. Our loss is heavens gain. I love you mommy, but you always knew that didn't you. At the moment the pain of loosing you is too sore, when time heals a little I will begin to remember all the happy and sad memories we have had together. Right now I just need to grieve your passing my lovely mommy.

Right now I am full Of tears and there is no word I can use to describe how I feel. Our mother was a wonderful person very humbled and caring. I know that I could never hope to achieve that no matter how long I live. Mom never complained too much about the constant pain she was in for all these years, but now I know that wherever she may be she is free of pain.

Ouma my heart is so sad but I know that you are safe in the arms of our Father God. You have no more pain and no more suffering.  I thank you for passing on those incredible genes, Genes of Strength, Compassion, Humor, Elegance; Determination and Faith.. Thank you for teaching me through your actions about perseverance.  The Love you so gently offer timelessly, constantly, endlessly, and infinitely. ... Thank you for your constant support and guidance to all your loved ones. ... Your honesty, integrity, wisdom and open heartedness have been a true inspiration throughout my life. ... And for teaching me, through your actions, about perseverance.
I will always Love you and will remember all the beautiful times I spent with you, memories I will cherish forever..

Its such a Grand thing to be a Mother of a Mother – that why the world calls her GRANDMother…

Your Loving Granddaughter – Ashleigh Donna