Iris was the love of my life, a treasure-trove. Memories of our life together will be with me always. Immediate attractions on meeting her were those of a bright attractive fun loving woman with bright eyes and cheeky and winning smiles. She loved colour, colourful clothes and flowers. I was soon to discover that she was also strong-minded, resolute, shrewd, sharp witted, kind, caring and generous. Her Roman Catholicism was a source of strength, as were her many friends in the Roman Catholic community and from other walks of life. Her other source of strength was her family, she supported them all constantly and she was rewarded by their love and care. Our love grew and we married on May 16th 1987 and looked forward to a long, happy and rewarding life together. Life with Iris was happy and rewarding. We had many holidays and adventures together and with members of our family and there was plenty of humour and laughter. New grandchildren brought joy and happiness. Sadly however Iris’s life was not to be long. Parkinson’s disease was diagnosed at the end of 2000 after what was to be our last overseas holiday in Malta. Despite the shock of the news to us both, to her family and friends and trying to come to terms with the consequences, she showed courage and determination in trying to continue with life as she had lived it. She continued with her churchgoing activities, family celebrations, outings and holidaying. Activity around the home, even with assistance, became increasingly difficult as she strove to maintain her dignity, values and appearance. She was progressively confined to a wheelchair for outings and holidays. She was boosted by the visits of family and friends and we enjoyed looking after grandchild Alexander each week as he grew to school age and encouraging him to swim later on. Life changed dramatically March 2005 when an adverse reaction to a treatment for a Parkinson’s problem resulted in hospitalisation. The next 5 months were a traumatic time. A further complication during the 5 months required a recovery period of 20 months at Bradwell Hospital. She was considered sufficiently recovered by May 2nd 2007 to return home, where she lived supported and cared for by me, her family and friends and her doctor, nurses, carers and other professionals. She had as good a year as it was possible to have and we looked forward to more years. Sadly however, on May 5th she was taken to hospital after a problem developed. She seemed to be recovering for four days but she was overwhelmed by her problems on the fifth day May 10th 2008, just short of our 21st Wedding Anniversary aged only 68. Iris showed during her hospitalisation and year at home that although physically impaired, she had lost none of her other attributes. She showed more concern and care for and generosity towards others than concern for her own plight and there were still moments of cheer and happiness. There were only a few occasions when she needed an extra boost to her spirit when it wilted. The essential Iris shone through her life and her period of illness. Her love, humility, understanding, sensitivity, care, concern and generosity continued. She drew on her faith, determination, drive and resourcefulness to cope with her condition and there were still times for humour, laughter, dressing up and fun. She stayed focussed to the end, the matriarch of the family, and a beacon to her many friends, her doctor, nurses, careers and other professionals. Her loss brings great sadness, but memories of her will live on forever.