Kate Spencer

Kate Spencer née Catherine Anne Murray 

         8th July 1958 to 22nd February 2007

 

 

It’s hard to believe

Still harder to say

That dear, sweetest Kate

You passed swiftly away

Ten short years ago

At dawn this very day.

 

In the early morning ward

Your young life slipped away

As the birds in Lincoln chirped

And huddled in prayer

That a soul ever so loving

Was no longer there.

 

Where was the justice

In a life cut so short?

Life promised much more

When you were chosen by Dad

In the adoption ward

Of a Dublin orphanage.

 

Given up by your birth mother

Unable to care

For a baby who was born

When no father was there.

 

You could hardly remember

Mum was seeking a son

But came back with a daughter.

Your deep and sad eyes

Won over your mother and father.

 

Catherine they called you

In honour of Dad’s mother

Who living in England

Never quite managed

To meet her granddaughter.

 

With the sweetest of smiles

The house filled with laughter

And kindness and love

Despite early disaster.

 

The day of Claire’s Christening

You announced to the world

You were going nursing in Asia

You were joining Concern.

 

You returned with a husband

Devoted to you

In death and in life

In sickness and health

He was there for his wife. 

 

Twenty years later

We embraced as you

Slipped slowly away

So early on the saddest day.

 

Dear, sweetest Kate

So short were your days

But still your smile lingers

And your laughter still stays.

 

Your sister and I

Remember you still

We love you today

Forever we will.

February 22nd 2017