In memory and as a tribute to Joyce Ing July 1916 - May 2008 Joyce Ing was a much loved member of our church. Before she died, she wrote some of her memories seen below, which were read at her funeral on Monday, June 2nd. Born November 2, 1919, with one older sister and three older brothers. Home was Eltham in London SE9. Name Joyce Kathleen Peete. When I queried (when I was very young) why my sister was at my Grandmother Peete's, I was informed that my mother was very ill when I was born, so as the Peete family had not had any girls for approximately three generations, they took my sister to stay; my brothers the neighbours looked after, as well as Mum and I. My sister did not return to us until I was about nine or ten, so what chance did I have with three older brothers -no regrets, I loved them all. One of the first things I learned to do well was run, which came in handy when I knew my Father was looking for me. He would be astonished when he returned home to find I was there, often in bed. I loved the military. My eldest brother used to take me to Woolwich Garrison Church on a Sunday. I loved the service and those wonderful soldiers hymn singing. Then after the service they played the band on the parade ground and I was allowed to eat one of the sweets his young lady had got out of a machine. I first went into children's work at Goldie Leigh Hospital (a hospital for children's skin diseases). The hospital had beautiful grounds with cottages named after flowers - ie Wisteria etc. There was a very strict matron, but she was good! I was determined to join the war effort and did so as a WAAF (Womens' Auxiliary Air Force). One of my brothers, who was already in the Navy grumbled at me for joining, but as he could do nothing about it, he started telling me how to take care of myself and what answers to give to certain types of men in the services (happy days!) My mother (my best friend) was a very sensible lady and all of us could always talk to her, in this I was fortunate. So as this does not go on too long, I did various jobs as the family used to cry ‘help’ as I was the only one single. This I did with no regrets, after all they are family. In 1961 came to stay on the Hermitage estate just for weekends, but fell in love with the area, which also had a better train service as I was working as a GPO operator at the continental exchange in London. When I had the offer to share a house with a lady, I took up the offer. I did a football coupon round for her on my trusty cycle and got to know some very nice people. I used to talk to a gentleman when I was doing the front garden, when he was walking his dog. To cut a long story short, we married in church in 1967. When I was asked how was it that I was single for forty years then found a partner (without looking!) I told them, I fell in love with his dog! Frank knew this and appreciated the joke! We had good years together and soon after I lost him I went into Princess Christian Homes -again I was fortunate. Then it closed and I was lucky enough to live in Knaphill quite close to the Vyne Community Centre. When I finally decided to join and started the Vyne it was one of the best decisions I ever made. I made some nice friends there and found happiness and companionship. My main thoughts and prayers were for those who were worse off than I and my only regret is that I could not do more to help them. I also do not regret changing and joining KMC. There I also found some wonderful friends. I was born the last of my family and I am now the only one left. We had ups and downs, but we were family and will all meet again. Thank you everyone for being my friend and for the kindness you have shown to me. Joyce Ing Rev Nick Oborski This is my parting tribute built on the times I spent with Joyce. The reading and theme for her funeral was taken from John 12 v 20-36 "The Seed Dies to Live" Joyce loved God and she made many sacrifices through her life – in a sense she was prepared to allow parts of her life to die. Her service of support to her family meant that she all but sacrificed marriage, prepared to be single all her life, but in the act of dying to that desire God raised up a husband when she was in her 40’s. Even so it meant that she never had children and again she was prepared to allow that death of opportunity, but to grand nieces and nephews she was again blessed by God, enjoying children in a different context. Only after her death did I discover the Joyce was shopping for my son. Thomas used to visit Joyce once a week and was spoilt rotten with a can of coke. Indeed Thomas was proudly shown off as my boyfriend to the neighbours even though he was then 17. It was a very important mark of Joyce’s love for others that she could reach out across the boundaries of age. Many of us see disappointments as an opportunity to criticise God – to have a moan but not Joyce – she might moan about people occasionally but never about God. You know Nick she would often say to me God’s been good to me. With illness she would often ponder going home to God and then muse he’s still got work for me. She held the sense of the now and the not now of today and the future hope of God of which she was assured in the now. The Thursday before she died I visited her and we shared communion. If I had known it was the last time I would see her I would have stayed longer and her words come back to me – I’m tired, they can’t do any operations because doing anything upsets something else, I think it’s time to go home. Within a week she died peacefully in her bed with her good friend Barbara a nurse from the surgery beside her. The seed must die so that new life can begin. She often described herself as a recycled teenager – I think she understood this passage because now she is a recycled seed, blooming in heaven and raised to eternal life with our Lord Jesus Christ. She is an example to us of the need to die to our own selfish will in this life, to accept what God offers us with open hands, in the knowledge that our lasting presence will be new life, through death and resurrection. Joyce always loved God, God always loved Joyce and Joyce would want you to know God loves you and she’d want you to love God. The darkness of death has overtaken Joyce but now she walks in the eternal light of Christ. May we too walk that path when our time comes. Joyce had requested that the 'Dambusters March' was played as the funeral party left the church. Nick Oborski Back To Memories