It’s Some Fantastic Place for Fay as family plan a tuneful tribute
People urged to remember beloved NHS worker by playing Squeeze song at time of her funeral
The family of a much loved Killearn NHS worker are asking locals to remember her on the day of her funeral with a special song.
Fay Smith, 66, worked with the NHS for 30 years, most recently as office manager at Killearn Health Centre and died peacefully on May 18 in Glasgow Royal Infirmary.
However, her family hope at 11am on Monday — the time of her funeral — people will remember her by listening to the Squeeze song “Some Fantastic Place” and raising a cup or a glass in her honour.
Prior to that, the hearse will slowly drive through Killearn en route to Stirling, pausing at the health centre around 9.55am.
Her family say, while the funeral will limited given the lockdown restrictions, the centre will be a fitting place for anyone to gather to acknowledge her — while respecting social distancing. — adding that “the health and wellbeing of the people of Killearn was something she cared deeply about and worked hard for”.
Her relatives add it has been difficult to think of a way for people who would have attended the funeral to do something to connect with Fay, but that she had loved the Squeeze song.
They have also asked for no flowers, but donations can be made directly to the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society instead.
Her colleagues at the centre described her as a “dear friend and colleague”, adding: “Fay was a central part of our team at the health centre for over 30 years and as our office manager always worked incredibly hard to support our team and to ensure that our patients received the appropriate care and access to our services.
“She was incredibly dedicated not just to the practice but the community she worked and lived in. She always managed this with a sense of humour second to none and was always supportive of all the young doctors we train.
“We all miss her dearly, as we are sure the community she served does.
“She leaves behind a huge gap and will be missed terribly by all of us. Our thoughts are with her family at this sad time.”
In a message, her children Gary and Lesley said: “Our mum’s funeral will take place on Monday June 1. Sadly, nobody will be allowed to attend other than immediate family.
“Some friends have kindly asked our blessing to be made aware of the departure time and route that the hearse will take through Killearn, so that they may pay respects as she passes through the village for the final time. We would welcome anyone who wanted to pay respects in this way.
“The funeral will commence at 11am and would like for anyone who wanted to, to play the song ‘Some Fantastic Place’ by
Squeeze at 11am and raise a cup of tea or something stronger in the comfort of their home.
“It has been hard to think of a way for people who would have attended the funeral to do something aligned with it but we felt this was the simplest and most fitting thing that mum would have appreciated. Mum loved that song.
“Lastly, we just wanted to say that the warmth of feeling that we have felt towards mum from friends and people in the village has been overwhelming and a real comfort.”
Fay is survived by husband Alan, children Gary and Lesley, son-in-law Craig and daughter-in-law Camilla and grandkids Cameron, Gregor, Logan, Elodie, and Lucie.