Mum’s death has left a void in many hearts, but her life has left many more memories for those who knew her.
Born on 1st March 1941 in Berlin, Mum was the third of four daughters born to Walter and Lesley Bonin. A few years later, Mum and her family moved to the UK with the help of the British Consulate. They spent some months in Scotland on their Aunt Kathleen’s farm, time in Hemel Hempstead and Liverpool, before settling on the Wirral. It was here that Mum’s love of music flourished, as well as her close family bonds. She would take her younger sister Soo to music lessons, taught her the piano basics, and gave her lifts to school on her newly acquired motor scooter. Mum played the clarinet and would join the musicians at the local pantomime – encouraging the young Soo to join them on her flute.
Mum met Dad in 1967 at the youth club here at English Martyrs Church and romance blossomed.
Thoughts of moving away and becoming a probation officer in Birmingham were put to one side with marriage and motherhood. Mum and Dad married on 10 May 1969 in a beautiful ceremony in this very church and settled in Wallasey. A few years later in 1973, they moved to Munich with their two young daughters and lived there for about 18 months. These were happy days in Bavaria with time spent visiting the Tiergarten, skating in the Olympic park and making family friendships that continue to this day.
Mum worked as a medical secretary, and then later as a Mental Health Act Administrator. She loved using her knowledge and time to help others and was always learning new things, including sign language, and an Open University Psychology degree in 1998. After retiring from work, she helped her niece practice German conversation, volunteered at St John’s Hospice at Clatterbridge, tended the garden at Our Lady of Lourdes church with John Lander, and taught a friend to swim. She shared books and jigsaws with neighbours, and spent time debating topical issues on her daily walks and ‘setting the world to rights’. Mum loved conversations and as many of us know, she often found they distracted her from other tasks – even walking!
Mum’s love of Germany remained with her all her life – from undertaking several German post graduate courses with the Gurter institute - to her frequent visits to Berlin with family or friends. Many of us will still have the Christmas gluhwein mugs Mum brought back with her!
Gill, one of Mum’s friends who joined her on trips to Germany, recalls a time when, after sightseeing round Berlin all day (including visiting the ‘Horror House’ where they laughed and screamed like teenagers), they returned to their hotel to find a seminar taking place in the foyer. Putting her coat to one side, Mum picked up a beautiful glass of champagne and started to mingle with the guests. She told Gill – who doesn’t speak any German – to just nod and try the canapes! They didn’t need any dinner that night!
This approach to life was one Mum developed early on - Auntie Barbara recalls one summer holiday when she and Mum took a job at Normans Food Factory in Seacombe, picking stalks off strawberries. One day the manager came down demanding to know who was cutting the strawberries in half …. It transpired that Mum’s nails were short and she was so fed up with the work that she had taken in some tweezers – which were rather too efficient at removing parts of the fruit! Perhaps Mum’s ingenuity interested the manager, because instead of getting the sack she was promoted to work in the office!
Mum was sociable, full of fun and laughter with a sense of adventure: She took Elaine and I, and our friends, to gymnastics, ice skating, horse-riding and on long bike rides. Mum loved hosting dinner parties with Dad, German speaking evenings, music, going to the theatre, and taking part in sport like tennis, squash and swimming. She loved baking cakes and playing games with her two granddaughters, Helen and Kate – even if regularly losing at Coppit and Dominoes!
With a love of colour accounting for painting the kitchen tangerine orange in the 1970’s, a liking for liquorish allsorts and a strong belief in Christmas Eve traditions, Mum lived life to the full. She was thrilled for Elaine when she had the opportunity to take part in the Clipper Round the World Yacht race, and eagerly followed the yacht’s progress.
Mum had a strong faith, and as she often misplaced items, she had a particularly close relationship with St Antony – to whom she would say a prayer and promise money to the SVP. They certainly received many contributions over the years!
Dad, Elaine and I have received so many wonderful messages from family and friends; some that had known Mum only a short time, but were struck by her kindness, friendship and sense of humour. Others had known her for many years, right back to childhood. One such friend is Anne McCracken, who met Mum over 60 years ago. Now living in America, Anne recalls getting the ferry with Mum to Liverpool, laughing and giggling together -at ballroom dances in their early 20’s, on a holiday to Spain in 1966, and on trips to San Francisco and Las Vegas. Her message about Mum recalls her kindness in helping Anne find a suitable care home for her mother, and continuing to visit her regularly. (Looking back over their friendship,) Anne’s words echo many others recalling Mum’s kindness; “She was truly the best friend anyone could have”.
We are all so blessed to have been able to laugh with Mum, to have felt loved and cherished by her, and we can all treasure our memories of Christine…, Tina…, Mum…., Oma…., special friend.
As her friend Gill has said, “Chris was a wonderful companion….I loved being with her, we would laugh so much and do the most stupid things, I will miss her but my memories of her are amazing”.