May – God Give You Rest

No, that’s not a typo. Yesterday we had a Thanksgiving Service for our dear friend May Chicken who has just died. She was almost 98!

Born in 1917, she had a career working in various Children’s Care Homes [first John Groom’s Crippleage, then Barnardos].She was responsible for helping 95 evacuees move safely from London to Shropshire
at the start of WW2, and then later went to Auchterarder in Scotland with more who were escaping the Blitz in London. Miss May Grimwood was a popular Matron, firm but fair and loved by all.
After the war she continued work in the caring profession – for many years with Barnardos and then supporting older folk. She finally came to Kirby Muxloe in her 50s.
It was here that joined our church. She met – and then married – Tom Chicken, a widower who belonged to the church. They had a number of happy years together till his death in 1998.
Barnardos  gave her a certificate honouring her service. May moved into the Carey Gardens Community next to our chapel - the second resident in the scheme. She continued to love life- still enjoying the laughter of children and cutting her birthday cake each year! Sadly a fall last year led to a rapid decline in health. She passed away peacefully last week – and now is free from pain, re-united with Tom.

At the service, Bob summed her up in three words
Peace-maker, Joy-giver, Faith-sharer
We shall miss her bright smile, but we thank God for her long life of service and caring. May – God give you rest!