Shirley Cork
Shirley was born in Oldham in Lancashire, where her father was a groundsman for the Oldham Cricket Club.
She met her husband Frank on holiday in Pembrokeshire whilst potato picking and they were married for 47 years. Frank was a baker by trade and they moved to various places until they settled in Waterlooville in 1971.
They were both deeply committed Christians and regular communicants and were both involved in the life of the church at St George's. Shirley was a member of the Mothers' Union, the parish representative of the Leprosy Mission and one of our team of "Holy Dusters".
She and Frank have three sons: Alan, Phillip and Richard and took great pride in their six grandchildren.
She was a lovely Christian lady of great charm and friendliness, who has recently borne with her illness with great courage. We commit her to the love and mercy of God and give our sympathy to all her family in their loss.
May she rest in peace and rise in glory.
written by Fr Malcolm Ferrier
A friend is a rarity, an uncommon, priceless gift. Friendship is talked about as though it were a common occurrence, but true friendships are few and far between.
Friends share life together.
There is no recrimination when a friend makes a mistake, only empathy.
Friendship is not a necessity; it is a gift.
Whoever is in possession of a true friend sees the exact counterpart of his own soul.
We think we know ourselves, know our idiosyncrasies, our weaknesses, our strengths. We think we know what makes us tick, what is good and bad about us. We believe that because we have lived with ourselves all our lives we know the person who lives within us. But we don't. That is why we need friends. They know who we are, and are not afraid to introduce us to ourselves.
Friendships are not found; they are made.
Criticism is welcome among friends, because friendship makes truth palatable.
When friends are separated by time it doesn't matter, because when they are together again they can start where they left off.
When two people are true friends they can speak to each other in silence.
Friends always understand your intentions, know your weaknesses, celebrate your successes, weep at your failures.
Friends never try to fix you, use you, embarrass you... at least, not when it really matters... or patronize you.
Friends are more than team mates, school mates, work mates, ship mates or church mates. Friends are soul mates.
Friends can talk forever, but good friends listen.
The idea of friendship is worthy, but genuine friendship is rare.
Friendship is nothing you see on television or in the cinema. Friendship is complicated but dependable, difficult but worthwhile, demanding but exhilarating, irritating but growth-producing, intrusive but welcome.
In short, friendship is one of life's great gifts.
Good friends can fight like cats and dogs, disappoint each other, say things they wish they hadn't said, hurt each other's feelings, and never have trouble forgiving and forgetting.
The essence of friendships is the courage to be ourselves. And friendship ensures you will never be boring, be happy with those who are happy, weep with those who weep.
If we live our entire life with just one good friend, we will die a wealthy person. But he who seeks a friend without fault remains without one.
Jesus didn't make disciples; he made friends who became his disciples.
And may the Lord keep an eye on us while we are separated from each other.
To my friend God - Thank you that you don't just love me; you like me! I know that you love me: you are supposed to... you're God. But like me? You really are my friend.
No one should live without a friend and especially die without a friend.
read by Pam Dinneen at the funeral service for Shirley Cork.
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