Marlene, known as Wendy to most, was born on the 15 th of February 1945, a daughter to Andrew and Pearl.
She should have been named Wendy but her dad got the names the wrong way around and registered her as Marlene Wendy, something the family always smiled about.
Wendy was very much central to family life. Through the years she became a mum to Adam, Darren & Peter.
Then was delighted to welcome the next generations of the family and become a Grandma to Aaron, Sophie, Tyler, Liam, Millie, Leo, William and Freddie and then a Great Grandma to Sydney, Aybe (pronounced A-B) Tommy & Roman.
And a Mother in-law to Julie, Lisa and Jenny, all of whom she welcomed into family life.
We think of the early years of Wendy's life which were spent in Bell green where she went to school and in time became a big sister to her brother Neil.
The family moved to Coventry road, Bulkington where her father became a pig farmer.
Her mother and father separated, and her mother had 3 more children making her a big sister again to Stuart, Joanne and Linda.
Wendy attended Nicholas Chamberlain in Bedworth where she made many lifelong friends.
After leaving school she would love to go dancing with good friends Janice & Heather.
In one of her first jobs she became a barmaid at the White lion Pub in Bulkington and it was whilst working there she met her first husband with who she had two son’s Adam & Darren.
Things didn’t work out and she found herself bringing her two boys up on her own until she met Cliff Knight who became her 2nd Husband in September 1971 with whom she had another son Peter in 1974.
To ensure they provided for their children they both worked.
Wendy started as a hairdresser for her sister in-law Hazel, before moving to Roger Pickards Butchers and freezer shop in Bulkington.
When it was announced Asda were opening a big store in Nuneaton she decided to apply, Wendy got the job and ended up working there for over 20 years until her retirement.
After work she would go home and ensure there was a cooked meal on the table and nearly always a homemade pudding.
She loved good quality food and would often quote” you only get what you pay for”! hence why most of her food shopping was done at Marks & Spencer’s.
Holidays for the family would consist of a week in Eastbourne where Cliff had friends, Broadstairs where her brother Neil lived, and the more adventurous Cliff got, they went to Skegness and Devon.
But Wendy always ensured the family went away somewhere for at least one holiday a year even if it meant her going without something to afford it.
Wendy even persuaded Cliff to venture further afield and go on holiday to Portugal a couple of times with Adam, Julie, Sophie and Tyler, sat there having a nice drink watching the sun go down without a care in the world, it was like being in paradise.
Whenever the opportunity arose to go out for a meal she’d be there like a shot be it with friends or family, one such occasion she was in such a rush to go she went with odd shoes on and it wasn’t until they got back did Pete and his family notice.
Wendy loved all children and was thrilled and proud to bits that she had 8 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren, there was nothing she wouldn’t do for them, often showering them with gifts and money and probably saying to them don’t tell your Dad!
She also had a soft spot for cats and would have loved a kitten would it not be for the main road she lived on so had to do with a kitten calendar in the kitchen.
Just before her retirement from Asda her Dad sadly passed away and two months later so did her husband Cliff.
Wendy suddenly found herself in the same position as several of her friends. There was a group of them that included the likes of Hazel, Kath, Sheila, Yola and Brenda.
The gang would enjoy going on holidays both abroad and in the UK, as well as going to the cinema, theatre and trying many different places for meals.
When Wendy was diagnosed with Kidney failure initially, she took it all in her stride and continued to enjoy life to the full going on holidays with the family, she even managed to go to Portugal and Rhodes twice whilst having dialysis.
It was during her first holiday to Rhodes and the first time she’d dialysed abroad that made Darren and Lisa laugh. Asked how it went she replied “Brilliant! they give you a cup of tea just like the George Eliot, but they also keep coming around with a bit of cake, some fruit and more tea.
But the best bit was that the doctor was gorgeous, and I think he fancied me because every time he walked past, he stroked my leg and asked if I was ok the randy sod”
We all booked again the next year but much to her disappointment the handsome doctor no longer worked there but such was the impression she made on the staff they all remembered her.
Once the summer was here Wendy would jump on her scooter and fly down the rec where she’d watch her son and grandsons play cricket before popping over to the bowls to catch up on all the local gossip, she would also enjoyed calling in at the café in the village on the days she wasn’t at the hospital.
As time went on the hospital and the situation with covid started to get Wendy down, she stayed in more and didn’t get to see as many people as she would of liked, but whenever anyone of her children or grandchildren went round her face lit up and her mood changed.
She loved her family and her family loved her. She was the best Mum, Grandma and Great Grandma anyone could have wished for and will be sadly missed by them and many, many people.
Adam
22nd January 2021
