Parish of Leatherhead - Marion Anne Moore 1929-2007
Marion died on 27th August 2007 and her funeral took place at Leatherhead Parish Church on Thursday, 13th September 2007.
The music and the readings were as follows: -
Sheep may safely graze - JS Bach
Hymn: Who would true valour see
Readings: verses from Ruth Chapter 1
Epistle of James: Chapter 2 verses 14-20
Hymn: Dear Lord and Father of Mankind
Hymn: Morning has brokenCommendation: Jesu, Joy of Man’s desiring
At the Crematorium: Be still my soul – J Sibelius – Libera
Committal: Gaelic Blessing – J Rutter, Aled JonesThe Address was given by Canon David Eaton:
As we would expect Barbara has made a comprehensive, deserved and affectionate tribute to Marion.
I would like to add one or two things from the specifically church perspective and from my own friendship with Marion.
Marion, with Elsie, has been the mainstay of financial management in our church for many years. Her grasp of church finances has been monolithic. She has seen the broad sweep and trends, but had her finger on the details too. Not only was this true when she was the Treasurer but it has remained true as she has supported her successors, each of whom has been able to count on her as a resource and been pleased to do so. Managing church accounts may sound a relatively simple operation. But the combination of requirements from the Diocese and the Charity Commissioners makes it a demanding task.
Although Marion’s physical health declined her metal agility remained as sharp as ever and she put it to very good effect. Not only did Marion manage the finances, she also rolled up her sleeves, with Elsie, and raised funds as well. Their coffee mornings were legion and renowned. They put together the goods themselves, which ranged from knitted toys and dressed dolls through to home-made preserves.
James is the epistle of good works and Marion and Elsie were prime examples of those who saw the need for both faith and works. Their faith wasn’t ‘pie in the sky when you die’. It was much more practical and down to earth.
Marion was at the seat of custom for many years at the Autumn Market, totting up the figures in her head (calculators? computers? I don’t go there!) and issuing forecasts to the assembled media as the day progressed. It is thanks to her good management that the church has remained on a financial even keel over many years.
I would have to say that Marion wasn’t always the most optimistic of forecasters (it’s the treasurers’ lot). I learnt over the years to appreciate her attention to detail but to add a pinch of salt to her sometime prophecies of doom. I was Pooh to her Eyeore.
Elsie and Marion Moore were together for over 70 years. They were devoted to each other and increasingly dependent on each other - partly physically but also emotionally. Of course they sometimes got on each others nerves, but there was at the heart of their relationship a love and trust that both enjoyed and depended on. In this they exhibited the devotion we heard read about between Ruth and her mother in law Naomi. Marion and Elsie travelled together and had the same sense of devotion and commitment.
The decline in Marion’s physical health has been particularly hard to bear. She has undoubtedly suffered as she has aged and her death is a release she must have looked for and hoped for at least on occasion. She has been supported in her home, partly by living-in carers, but also by local friends and family who have given very generously of their time and goodwill.
Although always very proper and correct Marion has also, at times, been very emotional. Her feelings spilled out of her, despite herself. She knew when it would happen and half apologised, She felt the broken-ness of their situation deeply and she was also deeply touched by the kindness of others and the affirmation she and Elsie received.
These were not things that she could easily talk about but they were real and present. So that the new heaven which she now inherits will shed light into these difficult areas of living. The Lord of heaven not only releases us physically, at our dying, but emotionally as well. No more crying or weeping, because all is now revealed, nothing is bottled up or cut short. We are transported. The old hindrances drop away. We are made new. It is the end of death and his cohorts. It is the beginning of a new level of being where wholeness and goodness rule and the light shines and the rivers of life run free and clear.
Marion justly inherits this new life and new way of being. We give thanks to God today for all that she has given and all that she meant to many people. We commit her to God’s safe keeping. May she rest in peace and rise in glory.
The funeral service was followed by the committal at Randalls Park Crematorium. Refreshments were provided at Marion's home.
Elsie Moore, Marion's sister, died in 2006
from the November 2007 magazine
Marion and Elsie Moore
Marion was the third of three church stalwarts to die in the same week last August. Tributes to Joan Ralph and Rene Vokes appeared in last month's magazine, so here is one to Marion who died on August 27, and which includes another stalwart, her sister Elsie who died on March 7 2006.Marion was born on July 2 1929, exactly five years and one month after Elsie. They had an older married sister, but Marion and Elsie lived together throughout their lives. Marion was in charge of a large department at a London branch of Lloyd's Bank for the latter part of her career, and Elsie finished her working life as the first Post Mistress at Leatherhead Post Office. After their retirement they became joint Treasurers of the PCC, a task which they were well qualified for, and they dedicated themselves to this for some 15 years, though in recent years, Elsie became Covenant Secretary, leaving Marion to carry out the work of Treasurer.
Much of their time was spent in knitting, crocheting, sewing, and making wonderful dolls and furry toys. Their immaculately dressed dolls were well known and their knitted garments travelled far and wide. Jams, marmalade and cakes were another celebrated feature of their annual coffee mornings, which they held for many years in aid of church funds.
Eventually ill health began to take its toll, and they needed a living-in carer for nearly six years, but they carried on, literally till their dying days, and Marion encouraged, helped and guided subsequent Treasurers throughout her illness. She had an amazing memory; years after using the information she was able to quote quite a long code number to Alan Fleming only about a week before she died. But by then the severe muscular degeneration from which she suffered was really taking its toll and towards the end she could hardly move at all. She had battled courageously for years with this affliction and never complained when one visited her, but towards the end her condition deteriorated sharply and her death came as a shock to all who knew her.
She was genuinely interested in and cared for people and their welfare and will be much missed by all who knew and worked with her. We all owe a great deal to both Marion and Elsie for their untiring efforts over the years.
Sheila Ford and Linda Heath
If you have favourite photos or recollections of Marion (or Elsie) please contact Frank Haslam, the editor of these pages.
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page last updated 26 Oct 2007