My Mummy – Eulogy
As accustomed as I am to public speaking, this is the one speech I hoped I would never have to give. Yet here we are – the funeral of my mother.
First of all I would like to share the basic story of Piera Pigi in Boeri that we see come to an end tomorrow at a cemetery in New Southgate.
This story starts in the little Italian village of Lazzali near Rustigazzo in Provincia Piacenza on the 8th January in 1925 – 86 years ago.
Having led a very normal childhood (in so far as living through the 2nd World Way in Northern Italy was ever normal) Piera decided to embark on her adventure to England and London in 1948.
Piera found work in a number of catering establishments in Battersea, Dalston, the West End and the City of London.
But there was something missing. That something was my father, Bernardo. Not content with what was available in London Piera returned to Italy and lured Bernardo to England telling him the streets were paved with gold. Well not quite. What
Piera meant was the fame associated in making shoes for the stars. Piera found her Dino a job working for Anello & Davide – the shoemaker to the Beatles, the Four Tops, Nancy Sinatra, the Rolling Stones and Luciano Pavarotti and many
many more.
My mother then proceeded to nurture her family as she guided my sister, Marilena and I, through school in Islington and onto secondary school.
The end result is here for all to judge!!
But this is just a short history lesson.
What I would really like to share with you are my mother’s enduring characteristics.
I will forever remember Piera resilience. Resilience that saw my mother refuse an amputation in relation to diabetic related gangrene. Promised almost certain death, my mother’s resilience went on to prove the medical profession wrong. She survived
the experience, the gangrene receded and she lived to fight another day – actually hundreds more.
My mother was a doting parent and grandparent. Not only did she find my father a job. Shealso found me my first job – guarding the cashmere sweaters in Littlewoods in Chapel Market.
Nothing gave Piera more pleasure than watching her grandchildren Francesca, Sophia and Daniele grow up. Her concern about my son’s love life endured to her final conversation with him the day before she died.
Like many ofher generation, Piera was a careful person. The bankers in the City of London would have done well to have heeded her advice. She believed that borrowing money was an unnecessary excess. If you did not have the money to buy something, then you should be patient and wait until you had worked hard enough to accumulate it. Patience was one of my mother’s most important
characteristics.
My mother’s love for her beloved Dino will remain an abiding memory. I recall with fondness my parents 50th Wedding anniversary celebration last year.
But there is one image I will never forget. The day before my mother died I watched hold her husband’s hand on a bench in her residential home’s garden. An image that will remain with me to the day I die.
But I have bad news for my dad and the children.
You were not number one.
That reveredposition was held by Her Majesty the Queen. My mother loved the Royal Family.Her hobby and passion was setting off early in the morning to witness Royal occasions.
I am delighted that mum was able to watch on television the wedding of William and Kate – an occasion that filled her with pleasure.
I said earlier that the journey ends tomorrow. I have to apologise but I have lied in church. The journey does not end tomorrow.
My mother lives on in her family and I hope that she will now guide us from her privileged position in heaven.
I have said enough.
To me Pierawas my mummy. Thank you for everything.