After a spontaneous spinal fracture, Joyce was admitted to hospital in Taunton for 10 days. She was in great pain and was unable to regain independent mobility. Sadly, this precipitated her admission to a residential home, because it was no longer safe for her to be in her own home alone.

Joyce had been requesting residential care for some time, and had chosen a Royal British Legion home, which she had visited. It was sad that this momentous change should happen in an unplanned way, and just before Christmas. Joyce was not able to go the first home of her choice, because there were never any vacancies.

In January 2018, Joyce asked to be moved to Devon, where she felt most at home. She then moved to a residential home at Willand, near Cullompton, where she was looked after well for the rest of her days. 

Despite the very good care that Mother received, the shock of leaving her home had a major impact. Her physical and mental health deteriorated and her weight steadily dropped. She was very badly affected by the death of close friends, notably Peggy and Barbara from her WRNS days and Doug, husband of June, her dear friends from her time living in Chelmsford. She was so deeply affected by Peggy’s death in July last year, that she asked not to be informed if her sister Bunty died, as she could not bear any more bad news.   

Sadly, her sister Bunty died in April of suspected coronavirus, in a nursing home in Croydon. We did not tell Joyce, although this was difficult, but she never asked and it was what she had requested. 
 
Over the past year, it has been very difficult for Graham and me to see Mother looking so thin, frail, anxious and often in pain. COVID-19 meant that we were unable to visit for the whole of the lockdown period, although we did manage four socially-distanced and separate visits in the last weeks before she died.
 
One of best recent conversations I had with my mother was when I reminded her of all the things she has taught me. I really value that she taught me how to manage on very little money and produce home-cooked meals from limited ingredients. I still make some of the dishes she made at home. My mother also taught me to knit, touch-type, make clothes, drive and look after the garden. She was a dab hand at wallpapering and has saved us a fortune over the years by helping with decoration and teaching me some basic skills. As a family, we all shared a strong work ethic, a love of animals, the countryside, art, music, holidays and good home-cooked food. Joyce was at the heart of our family and instrumental in establishing these values.        
 
We have asked ourselves many times why Mother had to sustain such pain and difficulty for so long. Although she will be very sadly missed, it is a relief to know that her suffering is over. She can finally be with my father, my aunt Bunty, her friends and all the animals that she loved.   
 
On a personal note, I would like to pay tribute to my amazing husband Graham, who was like a son to my mother. Graham has shared the care of my mother and my aunt for as long as I can remember. I do realise how lucky I am.
 
I would also like to thank all the staff at Somerville House, who made Mother’s last few years as comfortable as they could have been. They supported and encouraged her and kept her safe from coronavirus against overwhelming odds.