Strong mother who was always there to help others

BIG-HEARTED great-grandmother Grace Boyle has died at the age of 70. Born to Henry and Grace Paterson, she was one of four, and had two older brothers and a younger sister, all growing up in Maryhill, Glasgow.

After leaving school at 14, Grace got a job as a window dresser at a big Glasgow department store.

A year later in 1845, she met her future husband, engineer John. Three years later the sweethearts tied the knot at Our Lady of the Assumption Roman Catholic Church in Glasgow.

The newlyweds set up home in Maryhill and went on to have four daughters and a son – Jennifer, Allan, Rita, Karen (who sadly predeceased her) and Gillian – over the next 12 years.

And by the time of her death, Grace had 10 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren

Growing up, daughter Rita remembers fun-packed family holidays spent in the seaside town of Leven, Fife. “Later on, after dad retired, they loved to go down to Blackpool for a few days every now and then,” she says.

“They also got a caravan in Arbroath where they would spent weeks at a time. Mum and dad would often take their grandchildren up there with them for a few days too.”

Grace, who got a job as a part-time cleaner at the Yorkhill children’s hospital when her children were older, was also a very caring person, according to Rita.

“Mum was a very strong woman and always there to help others,” she says. “When my [maternal] granny passed away, mum took in one of her sisters who had learning difficulties, and she later took in my dad’s mother, who had dementia, too.”

For all Grace’s many qualities though, Rita recalls with a smile that cooking wasn’t her strong suit.

“Mum was good at baking cakes like Victoria sponges, but even she would be the first to admit she wasn’t the world’s greatest cook,” she chuckles. “You can’t be good at everything,

In 2012, Grace lost her beloved husband John who died of a heart attack aged 65. They had been married for 43 years. Despite her grief at losing him, Grace sought to live as full a life as possible over the next

“Mum kept the caravan for a wee while but it wasn’t the same after dad died, but she liked to visit Benidorm and Blackpool with my sisters and I,” says Rita.

“And we always did our best to make sure she had a really good time.” Sadly a couple of years ago, Grace was diagnosed with a lung condition – pulmonary fibrosis – gradually went downhill and died two months ago.

However, she did at least get to pass away at home. “My sisters and I looked after mum right to the end,” says Rita. “She wanted to be with the family when she passed away.” The funeral took place during the lockdown but 20-odd people – most of her nearest and dearest – still got to attend the service at Lambhill Crematorium, Glasgow.

“We were determined to give mum a good send off, come what may,” says Rita. “And a piper walked in front of the hearse, while the neighbours lined the street, as she left home for the last time. It was very moving.”

Afterwards, Grace’s surviving children scattered her ashes over the sea at Arbroath – her second home – where her late husband’s ashes had also been scattered.

“That was mum’s last wish, and we know in our hearts that she and dad are now reunited,” says Rita.

Grace was married to husband John for 53 years