Memory Trees: Doreen’s story
After Doreen Ovenden’s dad, Charlie Broadley, was cared for at Pilgrims Hospice Canterbury in 2016, the family decided to dedicate a leaf in Charlie’s memory to place on our Memory Tree at the hospice. Here, Doreen shares how this helps the family to feel comforted knowing that Charlie is remembered by all who see his leaf.
Dad loved a joke and to play a prank; he used to tell stories about all the mischief that he and his brother, Bert, and friends would get up to as young men. Born into a farming family, Dad joined the Home Guard in WWII and had lots of tales to tell! He adored his family; he had five children, seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, and we thank him for being our wonderful Dad, Granddad and Great-Granddad.
We will be eternally grateful for the end of life care that our dad received from the staff at Pilgrims; it was absolutely faultless and he was cared for by the staff as if he were their own loved one.
Doreen
Anyone who has ever suffered the loss of a loved one will understand how painful it is to watch them slip away. However, we will be eternally grateful for the end of life care that our dad received from the staff at Pilgrims; it was absolutely faultless and he was cared for by the staff as if he were their own loved one. The compassion and care shown to us as his family was equally amazing, and we will never be able to thank Pilgrims Hospices enough.
To repay Pilgrims in a small way and to remember our lovely dad, we decided to dedicate a silver leaf on the Memory Tree at the Canterbury hospice. It’s the perfect way to have Charlie Broadley remembered; every time someone looks at the tree and reads dad’s leaf, he is remembered. Through us continuing to keep Dad’s leaf on the Memory Tree each year, our donation helps to support Pilgrims. My siblings and I, and our mum, all contribute to Dad’s leaf, which we intend to keep on the Memory Tree forever.
Thank you to Pilgrims Hospice from each and every member of Charlie’s family.
If you’d like to dedicate a leaf on one of our Memory Trees in memory of a loved one please visit pilgrimshospices.org/memorytree or contact Sophie or Sara on 01227 782 066.
