Pakenham Village Tributes : Doreen Head

Doreen Head sadly passed away on Saturday 24th June 2017 following a spirited fight with cancer. Doreen was the daughter of Tom and Theresa Frear; born in 1935 just before the Second World War. She lived her early life simply as one of five children in the village of Fenstanton in East Anglia.

During her early adult life Doreen married John, and they lived in London and then as expatriates in Ghana and later in Trinidad and Tobago. She enjoyed the experience but was glad when the family returned to the UK in the late 1960's to live in Letchworth. Here the family settled and she raised her sons Duncan and Alex.

Doreen had an eye for detail and a drive for neatness and accuracy. This worked well in her chosen careers, firstly as a talented seamstress and later in Bookkeeping and Accountancy. Doreen and her husband John lived happily in Letchworth for almost 40 years.

In her later life, Doreen returned in 2006 to live in East Anglia where she and John settled to spend their autumn years enjoying village life in the charming Suffolk village of Pakenham. Being only one mile from their son Alex and his wife Sharon in Thurston, they became part of their daily life helping with their grandchildren.

Doreen quickly settled and made friends in Pakenham. She was an active member of both the local church and the Women's Institute. Doreen had strong quiet faith while always respecting other people's beliefs.

Throughout her life Doreen enjoyed gardening. In Pakenham she cultivated a wonderful garden which flourishes today as testament to her strong connection to her environment.

Until the final days Doreen carried on with her life determined that her illness would not take control. Doreen was a kind and unassuming person. She led her life quietly with dignity and pride. Doreen died peacefully at home surrounded by her loving family and with John beside her. Her funeral took place in St Mary's church on Wednesday 12th July.

We have sadly lost a wonderful person; wife, mother grandmother and friend to many but we wish to thank everyone in the village who honoured her at the church and who sent beautiful cards of condolence, the members of the Wl, Max for doing the reading and Jan for trimming up Doreen's garden, Rosemary Wright for her beautiful flower arrangements, Christopher Burn-Murdoch for helping with the service, Eileen Jones for playing the organ and our lovely vicar Katherine, who officiated. In our loss we feel surrounded by friends.

PV&CN - August 2017