I just want to say a massive THANKYOU for all the kind & heartfelt messages our family has received over the past week after the loss of our mum Paula. THANKYOU also to all the people who made the effort yesterday to come and show there last respects to Paula. It was quite the testament to her life to see friends & family spilling out the doors as we thought the 140 seat chapel would be more than enough seating. Weve had so many requests for a copy of the Eulogy I wrote, I thought its just easiest if I share here and if you know your close family or friends who dont have facey & would like a copy you can just forward it on to them. Thanks again with lots of Love Garry, Shanny & Heyd. Good morning Jesus hope I can get this across how it sounds in my head?? Im sure everyone here has so many beautiful memories of our mum, Paula. Trying to remember and relive some really special ones in a few minutes is always going to be tough. That’s the beauty of todays wake at mums favourite Club, where we will all get together after here to relive some of her wonderful, inspiring, joyous life moments. Paula Mary Bunting was born on Friday the 8th of October 1948, at St Margarets Hospital Darlinghurst and The 3rd Child to Mollie & Charlie Tierney of Punchbowl. Paula was a beautiful child with blonde curly hair. A bright shining light for her parents who had lost there son Paul only a few years earlier. She went to St Jeromes Primary School, Punchbowl where she was taught her Catholic faith that became a strength to her in later years. St Jeromes is also Where mum befriended her lifelong bestest of friends Jennifer Dennis. Who remained mums closest friend and was there with mum to the very end. I have never heard anyone else make my mum laugh like Jenny could. My mum loved Jenny with all her heart and would cherish there times together. Deagy, Shanny & I loved the Christmas holidays & as a bonus Jenny and her 2 daughters Sarah and Emma would come up to stay for a week or so at Dover rd Flats, It was truly some of the Happiest times I have ever seen my mum, and from that love and friendship that Mum and Jenny shared, I am now lucky enough to be married to her beautiful daughter Emma and have been able to give mum another gorgeous Grandchild, Florence, being her 9th. Mum was adamant she would make it down to the birth.. But was just to sick.. It was pretty cool though that she got to hold and cuddle her only days before her death in Gosford Hospital. As a child Paula was one of the butchers girls, her dad Charlie owned several shops around the Punchbowl area before he studied to became a Chiropractor & Osteopath & settled in Wamberal. Paula would help deliver meat for her father to customers on a push bike. Christmas eve was the busiest time, and Paula was always happy to help her hard working father. On Sundays Paula would drive her mum to mass in an International truck, she was 11 years old when she started doing this, Paula could hardly see over the steering wheel. But apparently was a terrific driver. Later in her teens mum like to drive fast (Im not sure where she got this from?) & could get her Austin A40 up on 2 wheels. She played tennis right up until Cancer told her she couldn’t, and even then she still did. She loved netball and one of her first full time jobs worked as a comptometer operator. Mum was a bloody hard worker & worked as a masseuse in The Imbruglia chiropractic clinics, she helped dad run Toukley Charcoal Chickens, kept on top of the tenants at Dover flats, specially her favourite Darryl in Flat 1. Our mum, Paula was raised by two wonderful characters Charlie and Mollie, both of Irish stock, who gave mum an early life filled with love, fun, loyalty and exciting times. Some of mums most beautiful, strongest traits being learnt from her parents Mollie & Charlie. Family came first & she would stand by our Dad & us kids no matter what the circumstances, whether we were right or wrong. My mums love was fierce & I always felt an extreme comfort, peace & Beautiful safety in her presence, even up until her most sickest & weakest. Spending time around my mum gave you such an incredible warm & fuzzy loving feeling, that even in parting you could carry this with you for days after. Our traditional family Monday night dinners were the BEST! mum would cook a feast including our favourite dessert, alternating each week whos turn it was for there favourite. I would look forward to it all day. At dinner there would be stories of the past week, mainly laughter & passionate discussions & sometimes tears. I would torment Deagy & Shanny & mum too.. She just loved having her kids around her & seeing them sooo happy. Mum Always smiling & beaming, so positive & full of life, no matter what! Everythings ok & everything will be ok she would say. No matter how dire the circumstances or big the problem was. Our little family of Deagy, Shanny and Gibba was so open, nothing was off limits, Nothing! Either one of us could reveal our most deepest, darkest problems or worries and mum would always have an answer or a positive outlook on the situation. Even when going through intense Chemotherapy, Mum never let it stop her from getting out & living life to the absolute fullest, I look back now and think maybe she was to bloody tough for her own good, she never complained, never winged about all the needles, the poking & prodding & all the tablets she had to swallow every day. She just didnt want us to worry, she was the strongest most mentally tough person I have ever known... There is this one very very intense Chemotherapy the doctors tried earlier this year that most patients can only handle maybe 3-4 weeks maximum... Mum did 11 weeks of it. The doctors couldnt believe it? Even during Chemo Mum still loved her midweek Tennis, Saturday Tennis, doing massive walks, laps of Terrigal, at night she loved the bright lights of Terrigal & being amongst the action, she loved the City, she still enjoyed Cleaning the house, especially the floor on her hands & knees. Long bike rides with dad & the Foggos & Jenny. A trip up the Hawkesbury on dads boat. Weeks up at Crescent Head with Bob & Jenny golfing & more long bike rides. Mum was not fazed by cancer as long as she was surrounded by beautiful people, friends & family & as long as she had enough strength to get out of the house she was happy. Paula was very close to her over protective sister Robin also, they shared a very close bond that strengthened in later years when Robin & Paddy moved to the Central Coast. Mum loved having her older sister just a short car ride away. Robin was Charlie and Mollies second child after there son Paul tragically lost his life during a simple operation when he was 3. Pas protective and intense love for his two daughters Robyn and Paula definitely blossomed and became instilled in both of there personalities, these were two very strong willed, stubborn women who you would never ever cross, bit like there father Charlie maybe? But that intense, beautiful, fiery spirit was magnified tenfold in mums generosity & kindness towards family, close friends & friends of her children. Growing up in Dover rd, mum opened up her immaculate kept 3 bedroom unit to ALL! Including Shanny & Deagys friends & all of THERE friends, including beds, pantry, pool, spa, BBQ & fridge. Actually anyone was welcome who surfed or just hung around Wambie. Mum let ALL my mates leave there surfing stuff at our place seeing as it was the most convenient surf check/hangout post & pre surf house. Mum would wake some mornings & come out to the lounge room round 6am in her undies & bra to 10 Boys splayed out all over the floor watching surf movies, or playing Mortal Combat. It was never, ever a problem, mum always said more the merrier Apart from the time Garth Tucker held little Deagy over the Balcony by his ankles. Yeah mum didnt like that.. & a couple of other occasions that I cant repeat right now.. Dad & us kids threw some big parties at Dover flats & mum loved it, I reckon just as much as us if not more. Even though Family came first for mum, She loved entertaining guests believe it or not? Guests of her own age. AND the three names that always pop into mind are - The Buntings, Foggos & Bones. Growing up if I didnt know any better youd think they were swingers?? Some of Shanny, Deagy & Is fondest memories were - Trips to Nyngan to the Hoopers with the Bones. Camping at Fingal Bay With the Foggos. Saturday Tennis with the Bones. BBQs with David and Mary at either our place or the Foggos while we played with Brad, Jarrod & Amy. Themed dress up nights at the Bones, with the Foggos. Themed dress up Dinner nights at the Foggos, with the Bones. Our annual Foggos, Bones & Buntings Christmas party at Dover Flats. Mum absolutely loved it.. When I close my eyes I can still see her massive, beaming smile that would light up any room and the room next to it. And that big awesome perm, always with the blonde tips, Allison Bone must have run a 20year special on that style cause mum rocked it for as long as I can remember. You know still now I cant believe my mum has gone, its so surreal & strange, my mum was larger than life & no matter how sick she was, I never thought she would go?? she was so strong & ALIVE, I just thought she would be here forever.. Mum dearly loved her parents Mollie & Charlie & we were so lucky as kids to have our nan & Pa in the very next street, many a times if you knew you were going to cop it off mum youd run down Dover bout 50metres, bolt though Rexes place & be in the safety of either Nan or Pas arms.. Until Eventually mum made you go home. If us kids werent at home, or at the beach, mum could always find us at Nan & Pas. Christmas there was THE BEST!! And Christmas Day was The Highlight of the Year. We had Great cousins Charlene, Joanne and Brendan who would stay at Nan and Pas most of the Christmas Holidays. And from what I can recall Brendan and I would just be the most well behaved kids for there mums Robin and Paula, apparently Shannon, Deagan, Joanne and Charlene were a real handful, and gave mum and Robin Hell. Afternoon of Christmas day we would head on over to Nan & Paps at North Avoca where we would hang with the Bunting side of the family & again Mum would just be in her element! It was always sooo relaxing & peaceful in that big yard at North Avoca by the lake, & again Family made these days. Hanging with our older cousins Lloyd & Rinelle. While mum & Aunty Pam, Berryl, Aunty Bon, Nan & all the women would sit around talking & organising more food. Dad, Uncle Graham & uncle Dez would be telling the best stories around the wood BBQ while drinking cold beer. These were very special days you never ever wanted to end.. Mums first meeting of Fred Bunting (Pap), her future father in-law was at North Avoca lake and they were all down swimming and as dad went to introduce his father Fred, who was sitting on a towel in his loose elasticated swimmers, his knackers were just hanging out on the towel.. Mums eyes nearly popped right out.. Welcome to the Buntings Paula. Afternoon drinks at Nan & Pas in Prince St were a regular also & mums favourite wine as a kid that sticks in my mind was Spumante. Garry did you get my bottle of Spumante? I remember the green bottle & plastic cork & the gold paper you had to unwrap, yep popping a bottle of Spumante with her mum Mollie & her sister Rob, laughter would always fill that little kitchen downstairs in Prince street & it was just wonderful to be surrounded by so much love & laughter... & Spumante. My mum loved my dad Garry so so much & my dad loved mum so so much. My mum leaving my dad after so many years of magic is just not fair... They were inseparable & the BEST of friends. Its quite amazing to think A couple to fall in love at 19 would spend the rest of there lives together so solid & true & ALWAYS so madly in love. Following is dads little description of how they first met - My Italian mate Vince and I decided a weekend at my Parents weekender at Nth Avoca would be a good idea, for a couple of beers then off to Terrigal Surf Club dance. Sitting down over the other side of the dance floor we spotted two girls sitting together and Heidi had all the boys around her, so I asked her friend Paula to Dance which she replied - okay. After the dance Paula said “Come back to our place for Coffee”. To Her parents weekender at Ena Street Terrigal. Vince said this is good, with a big smile, We’ll have some fun tonight. Paula opened the front door and there were bodies laying everywhere.. Very disappointing.. We had coffee and left. And that was the beginning of 46 years of a wonderful marriage, 3 loving children all raised at Wamberal Beach. I am so blessed I asked Paula to Dance, I now have 9 Grandchildren. Ok so heres a couple of other little things that I didnt know where to add in - Mums cooking. Was THE BEST!! Baked dinners. Home made hamburgers. Crumbed chicken, custard tart, orange butter cake and caramel dumplings - mum told me once, but not to tell Deagan, that he was an accident. Or was it dad?? Yeah mum fell Pregnant at 40 with Deagan & luckily mum was a devout Catholic Deag. - Deagan being much younger was great also, as Shanny & I could make up the best stories & hed believe them. Like the time I told him when he got bit by a spider that he had actually died & Gone to Heaven & this mum was actually his heaven mum not his real mum. Poor Deagy was hysterical & Im pretty sure mum flogged me for that one. - it took mum & dad 8 years to have there first child & they had pretty much given up & were actually in the final stages of adoption. Then... I came along, the miracle child & mum would always say that I Was her favourite. - Mum Loved Erina fair and shopping - Dad always said that if he died first he wanted his ashes scattered at Erina fair so mum would visit him 6 times a week. - Mum Loved ‘Breakers’ or in the early days Wambie Country Club, she loved a slap on the pokies and keno & would often sneak off to the club to play the pokies Han solo. I think the new bottom bar & the extension on the front of the club was all from mums generosity at the Cunch. - Mum loved her sweets, & often had cake instead of a meal. Lemon Meringue pie was one of her favourites. - Mum was so very generous, she would buy stuff for us kids and say dont tell your father. Also sneaking money to us if we were going out for family dinners so it looked like we had paid for it ourselves. - Deagy in Harvey Bay & I living in Cronulla, so far from our mum has been very hard the last couple of years as mums health declined. But, I always found so much comfort in knowing dad & Shanny were always right there. You couldnt wish for a better daughter than Shanny. So so strong & supportive, right up until when we had our hands on mum as she took her very last breath. Deagy & I just cant express how thankful we are that we have had you as the rock in mum & dads life in there most darkest of days. AND still now so much of a massive support for Dad. The bond you & mum had will never be broken & I know now your relationship with dad will only get stronger & become even more special. Mums are the BEST! & ours was the BESTEST! See ya mum, Love ya?
Posted on: Tue, 09 Dec 2014 23:33:14 +0000