There are several words that spring to mind when trying so sum up Mom.
She was caring and selfless often putting others before herself. She brought up her younger siblings: Arthur, Lily, Janet Sylvia and Robert, whilst her Mother went through each pregnancy. When she became a Christian she was sent away to live with a pastor but called back home to care for them again. In later years she was there to help and support them. When her husband Dave went through his long illness she nursed and cared for him, always putting herself last for attention.
An excellent cook, she kept a good table and an 'open house' hospitality, was the order of the day. Her speciality was apple pie, baken on a casserole lid so that the handles became ears and spare pastry was used to make a face on the lid of the pie.
Her creativity and artistic ways were also demonstrated by her making faces with the food on the plate of her youngest daughter, Linda, to encourage her to eat as as child she refused to, which was a regular thing. Also she would make dolls and animals out of sweet wrappers.
Wise beyond her years she always had those words of advice needed in every situation and was a calming inflence during times of stress and upset, a veritable peacemaker, very understanding.
Not having been brought up as a tactile person she was however, loving, kind and thoughtful.
Not adverse to receiving as well as giving a joke, like the time when Rob held a tiny water pistol obtained from a Christmas cracker and held it above Moms head saying the weatherman said isolated showers. On one occasion on holiday with her elder daughter, Patricia, and her grandson , John, she had a play sword fight on the beach using a rolled up beach mat, much to the amusement of the local Spanish people and holiday makers alike.
Her two great grandsons were a source of delight and she was immensely proud of them, in particular at the artistic talents of the eldest, James, the younger, Joshua, caused her to smile at some of his antics.
Definately a fun loving, youthful person, who did not see herself as old, she didn't want to go in a home because she did not want to be with the "old fogies" who sat dribbling, some of them being younger than ther. Her mind was active and alert, sharp as a razor, with all her marbles intact, she never missed a trick.
Comical is another word that describes hers. Openly admitting she did not pronounce words correctly and often mixed them up, for example she would say intercom for internet dominoes were always called geronimo's.
Most of the time she didn't answer to Mom or Mother, but did so to nicknames. Patricia and her mom worked together for about 2 years during which time she acquired the nickname "Mrs" because of them having the same surname and this was the only name she answered to when called in a shop or supermarket by Tricia. Linda and Rob gave her the nickname "Tigger" because of the year she was born in the Chinese horoscope.
She loved gardening, her music taste was eclectic, preferably loud, and would often burst into song, singing "I ain't got no body", or "Jesus wants me for a sunbeam". Well He's got His sunbeam now!.
Her clothing had to match and be modern, no fuddy duddy twinsets for her.
Her love extended to animals with her having firstly a red setter, Sam, and later a chocolate Burmese cat called Ella.
If she had a fault it was that she was stubborn, having to do things her way, and if she didn't want to do it or try something new, then she wouldn't.
Fond of cakes, bread, puddings and biscuits, to the extent that on holiday with her daughter Linda, the waiters got used to her and would say "Momma like bread", which was an understatement.
She always said she knew what were up to without looking and had eyes in the back of her head. No doubt she is looking down on us now and pointing her crooked finger at us, making comments like "I'm watching you".

God Bless you Mom. Gods little sunbeam.