The obituary notice of Helena BUTLER (Nee Ahern)

One last goodnight to the most wonderful Mum, Sister, Nanna, Great Nanna, Mum in law, Auntie and Friend. A woman whose love, strength, and devotion carried our family through everything.
She gave her whole heart to her family, making sure we never went without. Every Christmas, every holiday, every birthday, every tradition she made them all special, surrounding us with warmth and love. When mammy had her accident it was Nanna who held us together, caring for us every single day and never leaving our side.
I remember holidays down at Port Eynon beach where nanna would take us children down onto the beach in our wetsuits and wet shoes with a bucket to find crabs.. None of us made it back dry.
The bedtime stories and kisses are something we will all cherish forever.
She wasn’t just our Nanna she was the rock of the family, our safe place, and our guide.
From hand-making our school concert costumes to patiently teaching all us grandchildren how to sew, she filled our lives with kindness, creativity, and care. I could list so much more memorable moments but the page is just not big enough.
Nanna you were everything we could have wished for and more. We will carry your love with us always, and though we will miss you more than words can ever say, we take comfort knowing you will never truly leave us.
I will always tell Aleya-May about her wonderful, amazing Great-Nanna and I will cherish the memories and moments you both shared together forever☺️
Thank you for everything we love you Forever & Always and Nanna 🤍🕊️
Lots of love Carla🤍

I know you loved the postcards I sent, Nanna. So here's one last one from me for a while.

I'm so sorry we couldn’t be closer these last few years, but I want you to know I never stopped loving you or thinking about all the amazing times we had.

I still have that plant you gave me, the belle etoile and when it flowers every year, it’s like we're all right back there in the lounge, with a cuppa admiring it in your garden.
It always make me smile and think of you pottering around the hedgerow, teaching me the names of the flowers.

You built our whole childhood out of the best memories. I can still smell the crumpets, the pot of tea brewing away. And that burning warmth of the heater in the living room. I can still hear you singing us to sleep when we stayed over. You made everything feel so safe and magical.

I loved our birthday trips into town to Woolworths – letting us pick our own gift felt so grown up! And you were the original recycler, saving all your rubbish for us to turn into some mad craft project. I miss the smell of your Skoda and the adventure stories we would make up while you drove. I know we all drove you crazy a fair few times too. Sorry about that :)

I’m only sorry that you never got to meet my daughter, Emmy. But I will make sure she knows all about her amazing great-grandma. We already sing her the same lullaby you sang to us all. And she loves the pan pipes ;)

I’ll think of you now, back in your element, tending the most peaceful gardens in your next journey. After a lifetime of kindness, of teaching us about Prince Siddhartha, and of volunteering your love for the earth at the Lam Rim centre, may you have a peaceful transition and a fortunate rebirth.

Thank you for everything, Nanna. I’ll miss you so much.

Love you forever, Your Belle Etoile down here x

We remember with love our cousin Helena
Happy memories of our childhoods spent playing in Swansea and all the contacts and laughter throughout the years
Jim and Thelma Stearn