Dorothy Griffin
Dorothy Griffin
nee Beggs born 1935, died 2005, a loving and supportive
mother to Graeme, Christine, Kevin, Karen & Denise;
Nana to Kiel, Davina, David, Mathew, Jason, Melinda,
Brenden, Josh, Kianna & Tia; you will be sorely
missed.
William Griffin
William Richard
Griffin, born 1935, died 2018, knwon to all as Santa
& grandpa Bill, a supportive grandfather & great
grandad to Zac, Ettie & Charlotte; you had a
fulfilling life.
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grandchildren and parents
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Dorothy Beggs age 19
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Willliam
Griffin c. 2017
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 2005
- A tribute to Nana:
In the wall of my daughter's nusery
school there was a quotation which went something like
this:
"In 100 years no-one will care whether you had a big
house or a flash car, whether you were rich or poor,
whether you had a brief moment of fame or a life of
anomynity. The only lasting legacy you will leave is what
you have taught your children."
On this basis the girl born into the world as Dorothy
Beggs and who has left it as Dorothy Griffin, has left an
enormously good legacy in this world. Single handedly for
15 years, in an era when it was not so easy to do so, she
raised five children, all now productive members of the
community. Her last words to me were "to take care
of the children"; and the only answer in return was
that "I had the best teacher to so".
Mum, Nana, Dot, Topsy, however you knew her, she had a
wide circle of friends and family who all appreciated her
for her unique and caring manner, and all will miss her
in different ways. Certainly her grandchildren will miss
the joy she brought to them, especially at Xmas. It is a
tragedy that she did not live to see her
greatgrandchildren, but when they are born they will know
of her.
All of us children have been ably supported by Mum at
various difficult stages in our lives. Never did she ask
for anything in return. The same pattern of selflishness
extended to many of her friends & acquaintances in
need.
I would like to thank all her friends and family who are
attending today.
Especially I would like to thank Bill, her husband of the
last 23 years who accomodated her sometims difficult
attitude, and who was also allways supportive of a second
grown up family not initially his own. But most
importantly those years together with Bill really made a
positive difference compared with the earlier struggles
in her life.
I would like to close with a little letter that my wife
Ermie wrote to Nana, but I was unable to deliver on time.
Ermie says
"To Mom our Nana,
I am very very sorry if I cannot make it to come to see
you and say goodbye at your last moment. I was so sad,
and also Melinda & Kianna. Only I can say, wherever
you are now, I hope you are going to the Kingdom of
Heaven happy in the hand of the allmighty.
We miss your palatable jokes, especialy to the kids...We
miss you Nana...we miss you."
thank you all.
Graeme Legg.
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2018
- A tribute to Grandpa Bill:
I found it extremely difficult to write
this in such a short time frame, and could probably talk about a
million things that we all dearly loved about grandpa bill, but I
will try keep this short and sweet. I have a few distinct
memories whenever I think of my grandpa and I wanted to share
some of them with you all: The first, being the weekly phone
calls to nana and grandpas house. What became a tradition almost,
was our weekly Friday calls to grandpas house when I lived in
Bahrain, from a child all the way through to adolescence.
Especially as a kid and only being able to see Grandpa during
xmas time (which was once a year), the anticipation to call him
and tell him such small things… that didn’t really
matter- but at the time as a kid I thought it was the most
important news in the world. Such as that I won a netball game or
won a certificate for something at school. It sounds silly now
speaking as a 21 year old adult, but it was always the highlight
of my week even in my late teenage years. Those of you who know
Grampa and his stories, probably understand why I loved listening
and speaking to him as a child. One of those stories was how back
in his days, he remembered how his dad had a horse and carriage
and colour television to this day still shocked him. My second
most distinct memory, was one that just seems to embody who I
feel like my grandpa really is. Once as a child, I remember
peeking into his room when the door was slightly ajar, finding a
large Santa costume on the bed laid out. 5 minutes later, when
‘Santa’ came out for all the kids in his house, I
confronted him and said ‘I know its your grandpa’ to
what he responded ‘I’m Santa cheeky, what are you
talking about?’ I was about 5 or 6 then, and I barely
remember anything at that age. But that’s one of the
memories I do remember and to this day, when I look into his room
I instinctively flash back to that memory. His endless motivation
to put smiles on the children’s faces during xmas as Santa,
always used to warm my heart, to see how happy he enjoyed doing
it.
As a loving grandchild, and on behalf of many of the grandkids I
wanted to thank you Grandpa, for everything. For coming into the
Legg family and putting your heart and soul into it, especially
after nana died. It was a terrible time. Thank you for being a
hero and supporting a second family not of your own, but loving
them to the ends of the earth. You’ve always been so strong-
the amount of medical battles you have gone through and emotional
pain over the years. I will carry your willpower, your beautiful
energy and hold you forever in my heart. Even through the last
few rough months, you’ve still managed to smile throughout
everything. That is what I’m going to miss the most. My
final words to my loving grandpa are “I hope your journey to
heaven is peaceful, happy and beautiful. Just like the beautiful
human being you are. And I hope you are finally at peace, with
the love of your life, and envision you grampa at the almighty
doors of heaven, in nanas arms- reunited forever.”
Thank you
Melinda Legg
Young Dorothy
Young Bill
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| Bill,Davina &
Dot~jan93 |
Davina,Dot &
Jason ~dec 94 |
Eileen,Dot&Ermie~dec95
(still "marching") |
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Bill
& Dot ~2003
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Mathew, Dot
& Jason
~dec 2004
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With Davina ~ mar
2005 |
Santa Bill
Family members:
CHILDREN: Denise, Graeme,
Christine, Karen, Kevin.
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