Memorial for Louise Craig

Sarah Craig is organizing this fundraiser on behalf of Steve Griffin.

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It is with great sadness we grieve the loss of Louise Craig. This fundraiser is to help the Craig family secure a memorial spot for Louise so her mom and loved ones can visit and feel connected.

LOUISE JANE CRAIG Tuesday 16 January 2024 9am was laid to rest at South Bristol Crematorium.

These were the words at her final resting place:

Welcome, I would like to thank you for being here today at South Bristol as we come together to say our final farewells to Louise – yes far too soon but having had many years of health challenges, her family would like to think she is no longer in pain and is at peace, reunited with her dad Billy, her dear Nanny Mary and of course her partner Dale.

My name is David Miles. As a funeral celebrant, know my thoughts are with Dean, Louise’s much-loved son, her Mum Janet Her siblings - Brian, John, Kelly, Sarah, Steve and Craig. And other members of the family including Dolly-Rae Louise’s much loved Granddaughter, many nephews and nieces.

Family and friends have travelled from near and far. From here in Bristol and as far as the USA. Thank you for being here. Louise would have been really touched. Not everybody has been able to get here but we know they are thinking of Louise.

When I planned today with Mum Janet and family members on behalf of the wider family and importantly Dean who Louise proudly called her son, they told me that Louise will be remembered by you all as someone who was wild, loud and proud but also as someone who was extremely caring and loving. She would do anything for anyone and had a heart of pure gold. Despite her health challenges, she was smiley, giggly and fun. But she was also strong, she was wilful and stubborn and knew what she wanted in life. Life didn’t always give her back what she deserved but she always remained positive and knew she was loved.

Funerals are not only a time to honour a life that has been lived. But they are also a vehicle for us to grieve. We all grieve differently. We do so because we all had our own unique relationship with the person who has died. No way of grieving is wrong, each of us do it differently. Some carefully adjust in the privacy of their own thoughts. Some want to talk, some express themselves in actions. Some find comfort in memories and music. For example, Kelly has chosen Scars in Heaven by Casting Crowns, the track we came into the chapel listening to.

The only scars in Heaven, they won't belong to me and you

There'll be no such thing as broken, and all the old will be made new

And the thought that makes me smile now, even as the tears fall down

Is that the only scars in Heaven are on the hands that hold you now

I know the road you walked was anything but easy

You picked up your share of scars along the way

Oh, but now you're standing in the sun, you've fought your fight and your race is run. The pain is all a million miles away

Life for Louise has not always have been great but she is in a better place now.

Underpinning the life of Louise was her complete and utter dedication to animals. She had a way with animals that was unique. They trusted her and respected her, This was particularly in the case of Louise with horses. There are many stories that you know are examples of the bond between Louise and the animals she loved so much.

She would encourage horses to eat good grass wherever it was. For example, there are stories of her taking a horse into the front garden of someone’s house and encouraging the horse merrily munch away.

She also has the ability to break in a horse, to become disciplined. But there was a time where a neighbour saw her whilst working with a horse. Louise broke concentration and waved, The horse raised up and in doing so, broke Louise’s wrist. However, Louise continued to work with that horse and so she gained control of it.

Not only did she work hard with horses she also enjoyed riding them. She would often ride them bareback with no fear. But Louise being Louise there were occasions where she jumped on the horse topless, so she would be bare fronted!! She simply didn't care that anyone should see her boobs. She was quite happy with her horse doing what she loved the best.

It wasn't just horses she had a bond with. Louise also loved dogs particularly Indy and Ruby. She loved both of them and they were forever faithful to her. May they now be reunited on the Rainbow Bridge. Her family told me also about Monty who was the dog who hated everyone. However, Louise and him bonded and he would very happily sit on her lap.

Being brought up in Withywood or ‘Lower Dundry Falls’ meant Louise was never far from the countryside so had space to ride. She was born on 12 June 1974 to mum, Janet and Dad, Billy. I am sure that you would all agree that Janet should never have to face the loss of a child at whatever age. Our thoughts are with you Janet.

Brother John explained that as he and Louise grew up, they clashed but in time they understood each other and there was a great mutual respect. Janet, Mum told me her first daughter went to school. Went in one door and very quickly went out of the other. She didn't like school because it wasn't wild enough and she didn't like being told what to do. Louise went to work in hairdressing having left school but didn't last long because again, she didn't like being told what to do. However, it was a skill that she used throughout her life.

However, as a teenager Louise got to know a man called Shaun otherwise known as Juice. Knowing that she was good at sport he encouraged her to get into weightlifting. Juice simply got his protege and encouraged her to compete. Jan proudly told me her daughter won numerous medals including a gold and a silver.

The family house, as you can imagine, was very hectic following the arrival of Louise Kelly, Sarah, Steve and Craig joined the family. All will have their own memories. Steve told me Louise would make him and Craig, what she called, a ‘mean sandwich’. This was anything she could find in the fridge, and you put between multiple pieces of bread to make a massive sandwich.

As a child, teenager and an adult Louise gained many friends. She couldn't go down the street without someone saying hello to her.

In time Louise met John and they became parents to Dean. There was no doubt that Louise loved her only child. I am sure that Dean has many happy memories of growing up with his mum and I hope in time, those memories will give him comfort as he adjusts to a loss of an important person in his life.

“Poem from Dean”

Louise was wild and could be led astray. She visited establishments upon the invitation of Her Majesty the Queen where she no doubt had time to think and learn. What Louise didn't do was look after her body which started to fight back. Perhaps one of the lessons that Louise leaves us is to ensure that we look after our bodies and our well-being. Louise also she leaves us with the thought that our lives are made up of moments both good and bad. These moments are the story of who we are, Each and every one of you have contributed to Louise’s story. Her life may well have ended far too soon but, her story continues through your conversations and memories. Meanwhile we would like to think she is dancing in the sky.

Time of Reflection Dancing in the Sky by Dani and Lizzy

As you know Louise met Dale and was with him for many years. They had many mutual interests. But both died far too young. May they now be together forever with Louise having left us on 8 December last year.

So now we come to the part of the service where we say our sad goodbyes to Louise’s physical presence. Do remember though that her influence will always still be seen and felt in your life as you go forward in her memory. Please stand.

The Committal Open

We are all born, we live, and we all die. But we leave our mark on the world. Louise left her mark on our lives and the lives of many. And we thank her for being uniquely her. May she be with her animals wherever she is, that she is reunited with her Dad, Nanny Mary, her fur family and together with Dale, now forever resting in peace.

Closing words

Janet and the family thank you for attending today and for your support during this time of adjustment. You are very welcome to join them after the service at The Sartan Club, Queens Road, Bishopsworth, Bristol BS13 8LF to continue to share memories.

If you would like to make a donation for cancer research in memory of Louise, you have the opportunity to do so as you leave. Thank you. Before we move towards the garden of remembrance listening to Ruby by The Kaiser Chiefs, a message:

I know that my life was as wild as the rivers that carve out the land,

No one could hold me back and no one could make me stand.

I was not made for convention, I was not made to be still,

For my life was free as the eagles that live by their own natural will.

It means that I’ve left you too early and I know it hurts that I’ve flown,

But my life was mine for the making and not for another to own.

I love you with all of my being and I know that you love me the same.

I love you because you were there for me, despite me refusing to tame.

So now that I’m freer than ever before and am reaching to you from afar,

Know that at night that I am alright, that I can see you and where you all are.

I’m with my horses, you see, with them I’m alive and am free.

Go, look to the sky, that’s me on my colourful star.