In memoriam

Celebrate your life, you are somebody’s reason to smile

Lily Louisa Oliver – Born 24 December 1919, died 27 February 2014

Gill Phillips’ mum, passed away peacefully on February 27 2014. Having celebrated her 95th birthday at home on Christmas Eve with family and friends, Lily was admitted to hospital suffering from pneumonia and was then transferred to a residential care home.

Over the last 18 months, Lily remained interested in her visitors, enjoyed board games and crosswords with them and was quick to notice any wrong moves in Snakes and Ladders!

She attended All Saints regularly, until she became too poorly, having a bright smile for everyone with whom she spoke. Read more: Lily Louisa Oliver.

Miss Joan Godfrey

Miss Joan Godfrey suffered a severe stroke at her residential care home in Abbotsford Road on 22 February. She did not regain consciousness and passed away on 27 February at Queen’s hospital. She was branch librarian at Longbridge Library, retiring just before the relocation to Goodmayes.

Her contribution to the life of All Saints covered many aspects, from the Brownie Pack connection to hosting, writing and recording sessions for “Message”, a Christian telephone service. She held a house group in her flat and was Secretary to the PCC. She assisted the former Incumbent, Rev Keating with some correspondence matters and, for several years, managed the Church’s “In-house” bookstall.

Russell Simon Merritt

Russell, the much-loved son of June and Ernie Merritt, brother to Nicola and uncle to Amy and Alex, suffered a heart attack and died at home, in his sleep, on the 13 August 2014. He would have been 55 years old on the 1 September.

Having faced considerable learning difficulties as a child and young adult, Russell was employed by Sainsbury’s, in Ilford, for 25 years as a “trolley retriever” – beloved of staff and customers alike.

His funeral service, celebrating his life, was held at All Saints on Friday 22 September 2014, attended by very many family, friends and work colleagues. The service prior to cremation at Forest Crematorium reflected his life-long love of the music of Elvis Presley. Russell Merritt.

Ernie Merritt

Russell’s dad and June’s husband for 62 years, died on Saturday 15 July 2017 and was cremated at Earlham Crematorium, Norwich on Tuesday 1st August 2017. The service was attended by his family and many of Ernie’s friends from All Saints and was led by Rev Petros.