Mrs Louise Da-Cocodia

MBE, JP, BEM,DI,MA

1934-2008

A warm & devoted friend, well loved and well missed. Mrs E Phipps

Your mother was a great woman, well loved and admired by us all. Glenna and Brian Robson

I have warm memories of a strong, thoughtful, kind and visionary woman. Lorraine Questell

Your mum left a legacy which you can be very proud of, she showed love and compassion to many, she will be sadly missed by all. Doris and Jeanette Stanley & Nadia Hanley

My friendship with Louise has been a wonderful, caring, humorous and spiritual sisterly journey, spanning nearly twenty-five years. She was charming, intelligent, witty, discreet,honest, caring and a great "Woman's Woman". Louise was the real "WOMAN OF SUBSTANCE ". She shall be greatly missed but the indelible milestones that she has left for her community would live on. Waveney Lloyd

Louise was a dear friend and a true inspiration. Her achievements are well documented, but she will be remembered by those who knew her for her warmth and generosity of spirit. She touched the hearts of all who met her and her legacy will touch the lives of future generations Fred Fredericks

She was a really inspirational personal and a role model for the Moss Side and Longsight area and also for her interest and great efforts to serve the community in so many ways through her work with the Housing Associations, particularly Arawak and Mosscare and so many other community and Church groups. We have lost a pillar of the community and such a delightful lady. She will be remembered by so many. Jean Wheale

She was a pillar of the church and community... may she rest in peace Rogers Govender, Dean of Manchester

Graceful, wise, and caring. The essence of Mrs D will remain in countless hearts and minds Carl Palmer

Louise and I worked together as Magistrates in a very happy partnership for a couple of years at youth court. She always looked to sentencing with the view of hoping the youngster would "see the light "...she was an exceptional lady.

I shall miss her Brian Rosenfield

Please always remember that your mum was one of the dearest persons to have walked this earth. Diane

Now and again, the parallel of unspeakable things breaks through and those of us within reach are most affected. The death of our dear cousin Louise has presented us with a finality for which consolations never seem to satisfy. We "will miss her immensely but as we celebrate her life, we are encouraged and energised by the reflections

Owen-Ned Shand & Family

The legacy of your mum's work will live for many generations. Be proud. Sandra & Neneh Bitaye

She was a great colleague on the governing body of Trinity High School and in thecommunity and was a good friend to many....but she was also a much loved family friend and we shall all miss her very much Sarah Bullock

She was a remarkable lady that will be sadly missed Lyn Barrett, Carol & family

Your mum was a very special lady. Aunty Margaret and Uncle Geoff

Louise will be greatly missed by so many people. Jackie Etchells

Louise made a considerable contribution to the work of the University ...her outstanding service and wise guidance were greatly appreciated by all those who had the pleasure to work with her. Albert McMenemy

We counted ourselves very fortunate to have Louise as a friend and wise counsellor. Paul and Fran Goddard

You have every reason to be exceptionally proud of all she achieved; she will be sorely missed  by so many people and organisations. David Wilson

Your mother's unstinting service to the community and the City of Manchester through the many offices she held throughout her public life. She was highly respected by all who knew her and I know that she will be greatly missed

Councillor Glynn Evans, Lord Mayor

We are very grateful for having had the benefit of Louise Da-Cocodia 's presence during her lifetimes and believe our institution to be a better place as a result of her influence

Monica Box, Principal, City College

Your loving, caring mother is now at rest with her heavenly father, her good works are gone ahead of her

Clarybell Jones

Like a sister to me... a beautiful person

Charles Severs                                                '

In Loving Memory of Marlene: 25th February 1946 - 11th February 2008.

A Celebration of her Life

Part of Marlene's last text to her friend Val, "When we are reminded how powerless we really are it sharpens our own pleasure of life's real enjoyment I find - like spring." Marlene enjoyed all the pleasures of life and described difficult times as a 'slough of despond' (Pilgrims Progress)that we all have to get through and pat ourselves on the back when we pass through to the other side of pain.Marlene has passed through her last slough of despond with the help of her many friends and wanted us to remember all the happy times when she enriched our lives. We are here to celebrate what would have been her 62nd birthday with a party in the way that she wanted us to.

Marlene was  born  to Dennie  (short for Denver)  and Maurice Mullaly and was their   only   daughter.   She  attended Broughton High   School  where   she achieved   good   reports   and   exam results making her parents very proud. She was a strong minded teenager who loved  music,   dancing  and  generally enjoyed  having  fun, which   attracted many boyfriends.

On 17th March 1960 Marlene's mother remarried and on the 13th April 1977 her name was changed by deed to include that of her step-father Mr. Frank Rowe. Marlene's Aunt Dorothy, Frank's  sister is with us  today and has  recounted many happy memories of Marlene as a child and young woman. Marlene was enterprising and set up a successful market stall in the 1960's supplying the trend setters with imported Afghan coats from India. By 25th July 1973 Marlene had trained and qualified as a teacher which was to be her life-long vocation initially as a talented teacher of Art, later as a Careers Education and Guidance Co-ordinator helping pupils at "Broadoak School" in their transition from school to education and training and worked tirelessly to help them individually. Many of her colleagues who became firm friends of Marlene are here today and will have very clear memories of the assertive teacher who would not tolerate any bad behaviour from very challenging pupils, even if it meant that she had to send half the class out to senior staff and detain the offenders after school as a punishment. Marlene  retired  from  teaching  from "Broadoak School" in August 2000.

Marlene met and fell deeply in love with Mr. Sonny Micallef from Malta, whom she met after her parents moved to Malta. Their mutual love letters of at least two a week were in Marlene's treasured possessions. They became engaged but tragedy was to strike as Sonny contracted leukemia and died far quicker than expected on 27th March 1979 aged 25 years. He was the love of her life and all obituaries, a condolence card and funeral details of a religious Roman Catholic service are with the letters. I quote from a poem in the card by Ted Nesbitt, a poet who combines both Shakespeare and the Bible in their views of death, 'Safely Home';

verse 1

I am home in heaven, dear ones; Oh so happy and so bright! There is perfect joy and beauty In this everlasting light,

verse 5.

Then you must not grieve so sorely, For I love you dearly still; Try to look beyond earth's shadows' Pray to trust our father's will.

However, Marlene was not religious and she tried to get a memoriam poem placed in the newspaper but was unsuccessful. This poem reflects Marlene's views about life, love, grief and death;

Still the lazy ones, They smile Still, they are seen For a while They look and talk And still, They stare into the night. Still feel the pain, And know that time Can never make it right.They look for a reason And still there is none Even happiness hurts And still you are gone.

M.

Marlene embraced life with both hands she befriended people of all religions and belief systems. She fitted into all social groups valuing everyone. She would debate all issues of life, especially those of controversy voicing strong view and intelligently and forcefully presented her case loudly to others. She participated in two groups one as a young woman and finally until her recent illness in a reggae group, managing their bookings and participating in Thursday evening performances. If anyone was invited to a meal Marlene masterfully produced a feast of five courses of Italian cuisine with accompanying wines'; beginning with an aperitif of campari and finishing with zambuka and filter coffee and amaretto. Her wit was sharp and her humour dry providing all with entertainment of the highest order. She enjoyed travelling, especially with friends who invited her to Italy India and Malta where she spent many happy school summer holidays flying out the day school finished and returning six weeks later when term began- travel delays permitting! She was a cultured, sophisticated lady who was always smartly and appropriately presented but she knew how to let her hair down and boogie the night away or appreciate an opera or dine in her favourite Italian restaurant in Manchester, 'Cesare'. Whatever Marlene did she did it in style and with good friends who loved her dearly and will miss her deeply. Goodbye Marlene we will all remember you.