My name is Amanda I am the eldest daughter of Marion I will not be with you today to celebrate the life of my Mother but I would like to share my thoughts and memories with you. My Mother was a very special lady she was adored by her late husband George and her 2 daughters Amanda and Melanie. Mum was hard working, caring and loved life, her family and her dogs.
Marion Elizabeth Evans was born on the 23rd December 1928, to Winifred and Sydney.  Marion had an older brother Kenneth, and to everyone’s great surprise was followed 1 and a ¼ hours later by her identical twin sister Ethel.     
Marion and Ethel grew up during the war, and as children they were evacuated to the countryside.  This was to be their toughest challenge yet, as Marion got so homesick, that their Father went to collect them.  It was agreed that whatever happened during the war, they would face it together as a family at home.
Throughout their lives Marion and Ethel were to find being twins an advantage or sometimes a disadvantage. Marion was to meet a handsome young soldier for a date one evening but he bumped into Ethel on her way home and said don’t forget tonight, Ethel said what are you talking about and promptly walked off leaving the young man confused, needless to say he never turned up for his date. When I was admitted to hospital at the age of 8 years my favourite Aunty Ethel could visit as the staff could not tell Mum and Aunty Ethel apart and at this time only parents were allowed to visit. At the age of 80 they travelled to New Zealand with wheelchair assistance at the airport in Hong Kong a crowd gathered around them as if they had never seen elderly twins before Mum loved the attention but Ethel was not impressed.
One evening Mum went to collect Aunty Ethel from a dance, as she was standing waiting, she was asked by a young man if she had paid to come in. Mum was incensed, she explained why she was there so he asked her to dance, this was to be the start of Mum being swept off her feet and 50 years of the most amazing marriage. On February 3rd 1951, Marion married George in Christchurch Swansea, sharing a double wedding with her twin sister Ethel and Bryn.  Their joint wedding celebrations did not stop there however, as the twins enjoyed their honeymoon together in Bournemouth.  As a newly married couple Mum and Dad moved in with Marion’s Mum and Dad on Mynydd Newydd Rd Ravenhill, where Marion was to live for 80 years.
Their first born a son Ronald was to be a tragic loss to Mum and Dad dying at birth. Mum was told by her Doctor not to try for another child for a number of years and to make sure she timed them along with Ethel’s pregnancies to ensure all would be well. After the birth of David to Ethel & Bryn in September 1957, January 1958 brought a baby girl Amanda to Marion and George. In December 1961 another daughter Melanie was to be born followed in May 1962 by a daughter Jayne to Ethel and Bryn, the Doctors plan had worked 2 healthy and active young girls.
Mum was a stay at home Mother until both us girls went to school, she then got a job which was school hours as a Dinner lady in Portmead School, which allowed her to be at home on holidays and weekends, Mum loved this job and was a favourite with the children at the school even into adulthood the children would stop and talk.
In 1974 I got Mum a job in The Plas Nursing home (my weekend job), being taught by her 16-year-old daughter how to do her first male bed bath, a story told many times and never to be forgotten. Then after a number of years in the nursing home it was time for Mum to spread her wings to become an Auxiliary Nurse on ward 4 the accident and emergency ward, in Singleton hospital which she loved staying there until she had an unfortunate injury which left her unable to work.
Mum was a social butterfly she belonged to Young Wives, the Women’s Institute and regulars at the local church. Both Mum and Dad loved singing and belonged to Gilbert and Sullivan for over 40 years. They were amazing dancers you could never get them off the dance floor, Mum could always follow Dads lead even when he tried to catch her out. Our home was always full of song, dance and laughter.  
In 1978 I was to join the Queen Alexander Royal Army Nursing Corp. This was to be the start of many adventures for Mum, Dad, Ethel and Bryn travelling to many parts of the world to visit this globetrotting child, from Europe, the Americas, Hong Kong, Thailand and New Zealand to name just a few.
In 1985 a young soldier from the Army Catering Corp was to invite himself to our home in Swansea, Mum was all of a panic and went out and bought herself a new set of pots and pans, managing to burn the chops for his first meal she turned them over so he couldn’t see. Not to be deterred Richard took on the cooking in the old pots and pans and Mum whispered in my ear when we were leaving, I would like him for a son-in-law, by the following August Richard and I were married. Mum was an accomplished seamstress and made most of our clothes growing up but in 1986 Mum made my wedding gown, it was a beautiful gown with hundreds of hand stitched pearls sewn lovingly onto my gown by Mum and Aunty Ethel she always said it was a dream of hers  to make my wedding gown.
In 1990 the only grandchild was to be born to Melanie, a son Benjamin who was to be their pride and joy living with Mum and Dad until they got their own home when he was 5 years old.
Sadly in 2001 the Love of Mums life was to pass away, Dad passed away on their 50th Wedding anniversary surrounded by his loved ones and the Bishop who had married them 50 years previous as a young clergyman carrying out his first wedding. Mum also lost her little dog Lucky only weeks after Dad died. Mums life was to change from then, alone in the house even though Mum was surrounded by people who loved her a large hole was left, she put on a brave face and tried to embrace the life she was left with. Just before Christmas a little bundle of fur was going to change Mums life for the better as Bubbles a beautiful Pekingese puppy came along.
At the end of 2002 Richard and I were to move to New Zealand for a year of working and traveling. Mum had a flight booked for a visit even before our travel plans were completed. New Zealand turned into a long and unexpected trip for us and it was to be the start of Mums multiple travels across the globe and our forever home. As much as Mum loved New Zealand, I had to make a promise that I would never bring her here to live, as Wales was her home and she would never want to leave. However, we had agreed I would return home whenever I was needed as well as seeing each other twice a year in either New Zealand or the UK.
On the 27th November 2014 Mums world fell apart again with the death of her identical Twin Ethel and the beginning of vascular dementia. Friends would now slowly drift away as Mum loses her independence with the loss of her car and her memory failing.
 Sadly in 2017 Mum was to be taken ill and rushed into hospital which weakened her greatly and ended up leaving her beloved home of 80 years and taking up residence in Hengoed Care Home. At this time the promise I had given to my Mother was to be broken as I was unable to return home during her time of greatest need. I was undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy which I have always kept from my Mother, unable to see her for another 18 months. During this time Mum was to become very frail but due to amazing friends, family and the great care she received at Hengoed we were able to meet again.
In 2020 COVID 19 hit the world stage, so unable to travel once again due to a compromised immune system. With the help of the staff at Hengoed care I was able to have a virtual visit with Mum each Monday and sadly I could see her deteriorate before my eyes. I am unable to take her hand and tell her what she means to me or hug her to take the pain away, I could only do this in a letter and hope she will understand I am unable to be with Mum at the end of her days.
My Mother was my role model, she was always there for me when I needed her, she brought joy to my life, giving me the wings to fly and choose my path and above all she was my friend. I am privileged to have had the most amazing parents something I will be grateful for until the end of my days.
My biggest regret is I am not able to be with Mum when she needs me most. It is time now for my Mum and Dad to be happy to look down on us and be proud of what you have created from your special love for each other. I am not a religious person but Mum would always say goodnight and God bless you at the end of all our phone calls. Goodnight God bless you Mum and give you sweet dreams of happy times, sleep well and I will always love you and keep you in my heart until the end of my days, until we meet again.
Amanda