Person:Mona Ellis (2)

Eulogy read by granddaughter "Christine (Kavanagh) Lemon at the funeral of Muriel Coleman. As we sat around the table last Sunday evening we began to share our individual stories about Nana Coleman - they evoked different emotions from all of us - laughter, tears, sighs and looks of bewilderment. For some of the younger members of the family, Nana Coleman was remembered only as an old woman in a nursing home suffering from Alzheimer's. So it is for them in particular that I today share the story of the life of Muriel Coleman - daughter and friend, wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. We know very little about Nana's early life other than that she was born in Port Pirie in the early 1900's - the eldest daughter of Alfred and May Ellis. The story as we know it really begins to unfold when she met Horace Coleman, affectionately known as Horrie. Following their marriage, they became a cooking, cleaning, station hand team, travelling extensively around Australia following work. Even after the birth of their first child, Sue, they continued to travel. However, with the onset of World War Two and the arrival of their second child Margaret, they returned to Adelaide and made their home there.

Soon there was another addition to the family - daughter number three, Lenore. Despite the lengthy duration of the war, restrictions and an absent husband, Muriel remained optimistic. The words of her favourite song, Bluebird of Happiness, became woven into her life. Following the war, daughter number four, Nori was born. Muriel was a tenacious woman, developing skills in various areas to support and care for her family as well as others and was well known for her generosity. One example of this was her 50 years of service to Red Cross. Her contribution to this organisation was later honoured by life membership.

During this time, Muriel developed many long-term friendships. One group in particular, affectionately referred to as "The Gang" remained her close circle of friends for many years. Weekly luncheon get-togethers were held in John Martin's basement cafeteria.

The story gradually grew with the additional of 17 grand children and 23 great grandchildren. Visits and stays at Nana's meant new experiences. One of my particular favourites was eating dinner on a tray infront of the television - in the lounge room!!!> Trips to Glenelg shopping, excursions on the tram and playing the stereo meant that staying with Nana Coleman offered numerous delights for her grandchildren.

Gardening was one of Muriel's passions and her children and grandchildren have kept this part of the story alive. Pelegoniums became her specialty, but propagating anything seemed to be her forte. Nana would regularly have what appears to have bits of dead plants, sitting in containers on the kitchen windowsill. These "bits" always flourished and within no time became established plants in her garden.

Muriel had many talents, including doll making, knitting and crocheting - skills that were self taught and perfected over the years. The crochet bedspread on her bed at Glenelg North would be remember ER many here today - little fingers often became entwined in the intricacies of that design.

Stain removal, propagating plants, substitutes for cooking and herbal remedies all came under Nana's umbrella of wisdom - family members and friends would often ring for advice.

Muriel was baptised Church of England but had been pursuing the idea of becoming a Catholic for many years. In 1982, Muriel was received into the Catholic Church at St Bernadette's

Despite numerous health problems, Muriel seemed to always bounce back and I for one remember her climbing trees to pick fruit or prune branches despite protestations from various family members. She was a silent sufferer over many years, spending her final years in a wheel chair. The last seven years of her numerous were spent at Oaklands Residential Care - here surrounded by photos of her family, she was loved and cared for up until her death on October 31, 1999.

In sharing Muriel's story, I hope that each of you here today will gather up threads of it and share it with your own family just as we did last Sunday evening as we gathered to celebrate Tar's entry into adulthood and Nona's life. Nana's story of optimism friendship and family continues to on through us - in telling and retelling of her story.

1. ↑ ^1.0 1.1 E-Mail Jan Beamish.
2. ↑ Centennial Park Cemetery Authority. (760 Goodwood Road, Pasadena, SA 5042 http://www.centennialpark.org).
3. ↑ Centennial Park Cemetery Authority. (760 Goodwood Road, Pasadena, SA 5042 http://www.centennialpark.org).

   Mona Muriel Coleman from OAKLANDS PK
   Date of Death: 31/10/1999
   Age: 93 Years
   
   Interment Details: Cremation
   Section: Weeping Rose Gardens
   Row: RB
   Path: N17
   Site: 016
   
   Licence Number: 205107
   Licence Expiry Date: 19/04/2019

4. ↑ Nori. E-Mail Nori.
5. ↑ Tombstone of Horace William and Mona Martha Jean Coleman.
6. ↑ As we sat around the table last Sunday evening we began to share our individual stories about Nana Coleman - they evoked different emotions from all of us - laughter, tears, sighs and looks of bewilderment. For some of the younger members of the family, nana Coleman was remembered only as an old woman in a nursing home suffering from Alzheimer's. So it is for them in particular that I today share the story of the life of Muriel Coleman - daughter, friend, wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother.
   
   We know very little about Nan's early life other than that she was born in Port Pirie in the early 1900's - the eldest daughter of Alfred and May Ellis. the story as we know it really begins to unfold when she met Horace Coleman, affectionately known as Horrie. Following their marriage, they became a cook, cleaning, station hand team, travelling extensively around Australia following work. Even after the birth of their first child, Sue, they continued to travel. However, with the onset of World War Two and the arrival of their second child, Margaret, they return to Adelaide and made their home there.
   
   Soon there was another addition to the family - daughter number three, Lenore. Despite the lengthy duration of th war, restrictions and an absent husband, Muriel remained optimistic. The words of her favourite son, Bluebird of Happiness, became woven into her life. Following the war, daughter number four, Nori was born.
   
   Muriel was tenacious woman, developing skills in various areas to support and care for her family. At one time she was the resident cook for the attending specialist at the Queen Victoria Maternity Hospital. Somehow, she always managed to be there for her family as well as others and was well known for her generosity. One example of this was her 50 years of service to Red Cross. He contribution was later honoured by life membership.
   
   During this time, Muriel developed many long- term friendships. One group in particular, affectionately referred to as "The Gang" remained her close circle of long- term for many years. Weekly luncheon get-togethers were held in John Martin's basement cafeteria.
   
   The cafeteria gradually grew with the addition of 17 grandchildren and 23 great grandchildren. Visits and stays at Nana's meant new experiences. One of my particular favourites was eating dinner on a tray in front of the television - in the lounge room!!! Trips to Glenelg shopping excursions on the tram and playing the stereo meant that staying with nana Coleman offered numerous delights for her grandchildren.
   
   Gardening was one of Muriel's passions and her children and grandchildren have kept this part of the story alive. Pelegoniums became her specialty, but propagating anything seemed to be her forte. Nana would regularly have what appeared to be bits of dead plants, sitting in containers on the kitchen windowsill. These "bits" always flourished and within no time became established plants in her garden.
   
   Muriel had many talents, including doll making, knitting and crocheting - skills that were self taught and perfected over the years. The crochet bedspread at Glenelg North would be remembered by many here today - little fingers often became entwined in the intricacies of that design.
   
   Stain removal, propagating plant, substitutes for cooking and herbal remedies all came under Nana's umbrella of wisdom - family members and friends would often ring for advice.
   
   Muriel was baptised Church of England but had been pursing the idea of becoming a Catholic for many years. In 1982, Muriel was received into the Catholic Church at St Bernadette's.
   
   Despite numerous health probelms, Muriel seemed to always bounce back and I for one remember her climbing trees to pick fruit or prune branches despite protestations from various family members. She was a silent sufferer over many years, spending her final years in a wheel chair. The last seven years sufferer her sufferer were spent in Oaklands Residential Care - here surrounded by her photos of her family, she was loved and cared for until her death on October 31, 1999.
   
   In sharing Muriel's story, I hope that each of you here today will gather up threads of it and share it with your own family just as we did last Sunday evening as we gather to celebrate Tara's entry into adulthood and Nana's life. Nana's story of optimism, friendship and family continues to on through us - in telling and retelling her story.
7. ↑ Location Section: Weeping Rose Gardens, Row: RB, Path: N17 , Site: 016
   
   Transcription of Headstone
   COLEMAN / in loving memory of / Harace William / 25 Dec 1977 Age 76 / And his beloved wife / Mona Martha Jean / 31st Oct 1999 Age of 87 / Remembered with Love
   
   Interred in this site
   Horace William Coleman
   Mona Martha Jean