Thank you Rabbi ….for allowing me to say a few words. I have been warned by Claire and the kids to keep it short and I will do my best to keep it within 40 minutes. My late mother was called Freda (the feminine of Fred) Brianna-her middle name (the female of Brian) an unusual name. It was actually Yiddish extended into English and her name was meant to be Freida Bryna. She was born in 2-1-33 and would have been 85 this January to coincide with our silver wedding anniversary. She had tough times in her life-she lost her father when aged 13 and as a result had to help out in his credit business by visiting the tough docklands of Glasgow on payday to collect their dues. Not easy for a recently bereaved young teenager.
In later life she missed my father and had terrible health problems, enduring 5 separate malignancies but she also had special and happy times in her life. She loved her family, and she often referred to “ma Harry” and Claire she treated as a daughter .She loved her grandsons who are all gathered here today and particularly loved my mother in law Barbara and treated her as a sister
She was a local character and many people especially in Leeds Market and in and around Moortown knew her as “Mrs Doubtfire” after the movie of course. Not only is she missed by all her family and friends gathered here today but by people all over the world, especially in her native Glasgow. She is particularly missed by her wonderful sister Anne-Adele and her lovely family
Well I promised to keep it to within 40 minutes and hopefully I have succeeded
Thank you all for coming and for everyone’s kind words of support