Opening Music

‘The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face’ by George Michael


Welcome and Introduction 

Hello my name is Jeanie Rebane and I would like to extend a warm welcome to you all. It is my great privilege to conduct the service to honour the life of Julie. Whilst I absolutely know that you are all grieving the loss of Julie, we come together today to celebrate and commemorate her life. This is the gift we can offer to Julie, and indeed to ourselves.

By remembering her unique, special personality, the way she touched and enhanced the lives of those who knew her. I’m sure you may know, Love is an energy, we can all feel it tangibly, so the love Julie had for you and you continue to have for Julie will forever be in existence.

Here is a little poem I wrote, that I think, and hope, sums this up:

Love doesn’t die, it just naturally transforms
It starts with a connection before we are born
It changes and grows as we go through our life
Whether we’re a son, a daughter, a husband, or wife
And when at the end, when we take our last breath
Love like our own energy is infinite, and lives on after death

But right now we are all still here, I think it’s really helpful and important in these unsettling lockdown times to try and use this sad and challenging occasion as a catalyst to maybe make positive changes. To live our lives with intention, gratitude and love, to seize the day, to have fun, to be brave and adaptable with whatever life throws at us.

For I think we know deep in our hearts, Julie would want those she loved to be happy, to carry on as best they can, loving and supporting each other. There is no way I can fully encapsulate Julie’s life in a eulogy, but what I can do with the help of her beloved family is to shine a light on this kind, loving woman.

I would now like to invite Laura Julie’s eldest daughter to read a tribute on for their Mum:


Tribute read by Laura and James

We'd like to say a few words about our wonderful Mum. It's impossible to put into words how much she meant to us. Mum was our rock and was always there when we needed her without question, and we wish we could have been there for her in the same way. Mum was kind, caring, loyal and selfless and a very proud and private person. She certainly wouldn't have liked us to have made a fuss of her like we are today.

Mum was quite simply the best and there aren't enough words to thank her for everything that she did for us. Mum always went above and beyond and would look after us no matter what, even when we were adults ourselves. She always put her family above herself and she could never do enough for us. She loved us all so much and we will always feel that love in our hearts. We just wish we had her with us longer and that we had showed her just how special she was and how thankful we were for everything that she did for us. We are lucky to have had such a happy childhood which is all thanks to Mum and Dad and we have so many happy memories to look back on. We were brought up with good values and we will bring our children up in the same way.

Mum was so proud of us all and we are all so proud of her. We are Mum's legacy and she'll live on through us and through her grandchildren who she adored. Mum was never happier than when she had a baby in her arms or a dog for that matter and we knew that our children were in safe hands with Mum. We will never stop talking about Mum or sharing memories of her, and we will miss her every day.

Thanks Mum for everything. You are so loved and so missed and we wish we could have you back with us. Our hearts are broken but we promise that we will try and look after Dad and each other in the same way that you looked after us so you don't have to worry. We just wish you were here with us too. We love you so much and always will. We hope that you are at peace now.


Reflective Music

Photo reel of Julie’s life played to the song ‘Have I Told You Lately That I Love You’ by Rod Stewart


Eulogy

As I say it is a privilege to do this here today, and I feel so very fortunate that I can share the generous nature of Julie’s personality with you. She intrinsically knew that by being selfless it was her greatest reward.

Julie was born at home in North Lingwell Road in Middleton, Leeds on 11th May 1957, in a house built by her Grandad, and by coincidence Dr Campbell who delivered Julie also delivered Stephen two years before.

She was christened Isabel Julie Watson but was always known as Julie or Jules, and was one of three children and had an older sister Lynn and younger brother Stuart.

Julie as a youngster went to St Mary’s Primary school, then later following her parents’ separation they moved to Harlech Street in Beeston where she attended Agnes Stewart Secondary school. Her Grandad bought a house in the next street and was instrumental in helping to raise Julie, Lynn and Stuart.

Mum Isabel recalls one special childhood memory of Julie was when she helped to raise money for a kidney machine which resulted in her photo being published in the Yorkshire Evening Post. An early example of Julie’s caring nature.

Julie gained a step dad when her mum later married Ronnie. Julie’s Mum Isabel remembers the happy times they spent as a family in Filey where Julie often later loved to visit with her own family.

Julie was very good at Maths, and her Mum says at the age of 15 without mentioning it to anyone she went for an interview with Leeds City Council, and was offered a job in the Finance department once she left school.

However, while Julie was still at school, she worked part time at the Golden Egg restaurant in Leeds, where her sister Lynn also worked, but most importantly Stephen also worked there as a part-time chef. They quickly hit it off, and Julie’s life changed forever, and in Stephen she met the love of her life which lasted the rest of her life.

Both Julie and Stephen became close to each other’s families, and Stephen remembers them going out together on Saturday nights to the Tetley Sports and Social Club on Dewsbury Road for drinks and to watch the entertainment. 

The 70s was a special time for Stephen. All of his friends liked Julie, and he felt incredibly lucky to have her as his girlfriend.

As a young couple they began going on holidays together, and Stephen remembers one particular holiday in the Lake District during the hot summer of 1976. He had a MGB sports car, and they had wonderful times driving around in the sunshine with the soft top down, happy and carefree.

After their engagement they were married at St John’s Church, Roundhay on 13th May 1978, two days after Julie’s 21st birthday.

It was also happened that their special day was also a special day for Leeds, who had unexpectedly got to the Rugby League Challenge Cup final, and were playing St Helens at Wembley that day. Stephen fondly remembers the wedding reception at the Bingley Arms, Bardsey when a few of the guests sneaked out to listen to the game, and the vicar politely refused an invitation to the wedding reception to watch the match on TV.

Another funny memory was when Stephen accidently broke a glass bell on the morning of the wedding, one of a pair given as a wedding gift. Horrified he made a quick dash down to Schofields department store in Leeds to replace it before anyone noticed.

Their honeymoon was just one night only in the Post House Hotel, Bramhope as Stephen had to revise for his college exams which he took the following week.

Julie and Stephen’s first house was on Hollin Park Mount, Oakwood and it was where their first daughter Laura was born in Jaunary 1983, followed by Karen in October 1985. A few years later they moved to Fitzroy Drive, and in February 1990 their son James was born.

Julie being a totally devoted mother and wife, happily gave up her career at the Civic Hall to be a full time Mum.

However, she later returned to work part time on Sundays in Burton’s Accounts Department, and this meant Stephen was left in charge of the kids. One Sunday Karen fell and bumped her head, and had to go to the hospital for treatment. Stephen says he was frightened of getting in trouble from Julie for not taking care of her properly, even though he maintained it was an accident.

Julie would always put her family’s health and welfare ahead of own, and whenever she was ill didn’t want any fuss and would normally just take herself off to bed with painkillers and a hot water bottle.

In recent years Julie has helped care for her Mum along with her sister Lynn, visiting her each week and speaking to her by phone on several occasions every day. She also looked after Stephen’s Mum and Dad during their final years, attending hospital appointments with them and doing their shopping. Julie continued working until 2010, but gave up her job as a Data Manager with Cattles Finance to care for Stephen’s Dad who was terminally ill at the time.

Julie liked to have fun and like most of us enjoyed music. Her favourite singer was George Michael, whom she saw in concert with Stephen They also saw Rod Stewart and Queen to name but a few.

The family used to joke that Julie liked gay men like many women, myself included and apart from George Michael, Elton John, Freddie Mercury and Paul O’Grady were amongst her favourites.

Julie loved the theatre seeing of the big musical shows including Phantom of the Opera, The Lion King, Wicked, and many more.  She also enjoyed reading crime novels, and Laura says she inherited her love of reading because of her Mum.  

Stephen recalls too that Julie was an excellent knitter when they first met and she would knit for all the family and friends and especially any new babies.

Julie liked a glass of wine, usually a large Sauvignon Blanc. Her favourite food was salmon and prawns and she had that quirk like a lot of people of not liking peas, but liked mushy peas and she loved a Terrys chocolate orange. When it came to a cup tea, Karen remarked it was more water than tea, which made the family laugh saying she just frightened the water with the tea bag. And when Julie made Karen a cup of tea, she would only put one sugar in knowing she really liked two, but as a caring mum did so to reduce her sugar intake. She enjoyed going to the White House pub for a meal on Fridays after Stephen finished work, and went there too with her best friend Liz for lunch every couple of weeks.

One of Julie's distinctive features was her hair, and she looked forward to regular visits to her hairdresser Darius and sharing their latest news.

Apart from Stephen, Laura, Karen and James it is fair to say Julie’s greatest joy were her five grandchildren, Lily Tessa Mae (7), Ava Isabella (6), Archer Leo (4), Heath George (2) and Ivy Willow (7 months) and she was so excited and delighted when each of them were born. She has played a big part in their upbringing, undertaking childminding duties when required, and taking them to from school and nursery and various after school activities.

I truly do not exaggerate when I say if there were a dictionary with ‘perfect mum and grandmother’, I believe Julie Baker’s name would be there as the description.

Julie loved being a Grandma, and liked nothing better when the doorbell rang and the grandchildren would rush in and play with the toys that were kept in the house. She had a special cupboard with sweets for the children, with a Grandma’s Treat Tin and just as it was with her own children, would happily cater for her grandchildren’s individual food tastes. Also, whenever they went on trips there were always tasty sandwiches snacks and drinks.

Laura, Karen and James all mentioned that as children Julie took great pride in seeing them well turned out, and they were always dressed smartly with their shoes shined.

Julie loved holidays and outings and when the children were young went to family resorts like Great Yarmouth, Newquay, Woolacombe and Weymouth. They also enjoyed going on holidays abroad, one was a memorable holiday in France, more of that shortly.

In February 1998 Julie and Stephen purchased a timeshare villa at the Lanzarote Beach Club, where they enjoyed some wonderful holidays together. Julie loved going there and would relax and sunbath whilst the children played in the pool. Julie was an excellent swimmer and taught the children to swim.

Stephen says May was always a special month for them, and has happy memories of recent holidays including a trip to Rome for Julie’s 50th birthday in 2007, a weekend in Edinburgh for Julie’s 60th birthday in 2017 and a Mediterranean cruise on their Ruby Wedding Anniversary in 2018.

One of Julie’s favourite places to go was to Kilnsey Show in the Yorkshire Dales, where Julie and Stephen went on their own before taking their children and grandchildren in later years. 

I’m going to share with you in the order of their birth, (it’s only fair) just a few of the memories Laura, Karen and James have each shared with me:

As a youngster Laura had a special soft toy panda called Mandy, and knowing how much she had loved this Julie went on a mission and searched high and low for a similar one for Heath. She even called Harrods where Mandy had been bought in 1983 to see if they still had the same panda. Luckily Julie did in the end find a lovely panda for Heath.

Heath had his own special name for Julie ‘Anmar’, and they mutually adored each other. Laura also remembers the holiday in France, and one day we were out having a picnic when an older French couple sat down at the next table. The lady bent over to get something out of her bag and very loudly passed wind and then said "pardon" in a distinctly French accent. They tried not to laugh, but as children to Laura, Karen and James this sort of thing was hilarious, and this set their Mum off. She was doing her best not to laugh (we all were) and they couldn't even look at each other as it would make it worse. In the end Mum had to pretend to go and get something from the boot of the car so she could go and laugh out of earshot. It was so funny!

Karen told me of the times when she was a rebellious teenager, striking out on her own and her leaving home knowing very well how emotional that must have been for her Mum. But when Karen’s circumstances changed, she turned up on the doorstep with a Staffie dog named Arnie, whom she had rescued. They were both welcomed home wholeheartedly by Julie. No recriminations, and Julie a dog and animal lover absolutely adored Arnie and he, like Karen, was embraced fully into the family to be loved and nurtured by Julie.

Julie’s kindness extended to a friend of Karen’s, whose Mum had sadly passed away. Julie became a kind of surrogate mother to her, showing her love, doing her washing and feeding her.

James remembers going on trips to Tropical World, Roundhay Park when they were younger and she enjoyed taking the grandchildren there recently as well.  Another time he recalls is as a youngster he and two friends were camping overnight in the garden, they heard burglars going over the fence next door. After silently creeping back inside James shouted for his Mum and Dad, and it was his ‘Super Mum’ Julie who leapt into action going out in the street to see them off whilst Dad was still fast asleep.

Another time teenager James ended up having too much to drink. I think we’ve all been there, but what’s stands out for him is that his Mum didn’t get angry or judge him but instead just cleaned up after him, and mothered him better.

Today is but a mere snap shot of the abundance of happy memories the family have of Julie. But I think James’s words about his mother says it all:

“To summarise Mum would be difficult in a few words, but to name a few of her attributes I’d say she was loving, kind, caring, reliable, strong, supportive and selfless”.


Poem chosen and read by Karen ‘Legacy of Love’

A wife a mother a grandma too
This legacy we have from you
You taught us love and how to fight
You gave us strength you gave us might
A stronger person would be hard to find
And in your heart you were always kind
You fought for us all, in one way or another
Not just as a wife, not just as a mother
For all of us you gave your best
Now the time has come for you to rest
So go in peace, you’ve earned your sleep
Your love in our hearts we’ll eternally keep.


The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever.
Amen.


Closing Words by Stephen 

The last thing I expected was to be stood with you here today paying tribute to my wonderful wife Julie. I will keep this brief as she wouldn’t want me to go on for too long.
Julie and I were both young when we met whilst working at the Golden Egg restaurant, but I knew I had found the person I would marry and spend the rest of my life with.
By a strange twist of fate, due to lockdown restrictions my hair is about the same length as when we got married in 1978. The only thing missing is the kipper tie and bell bottom trousers.
We were very much in love and had the perfect life together.
Julie was simply the best wife in the world. She was beautiful and kind hearted and I count myself lucky to have been married to her for 42 years, and will continue to love her for as long as I live.
I was looking forward to us spending our retirement together, but now find myself facing the future without her.
The pain of losing Julie will never leave me, but I find strength in the memories of the many happy times we had together.
Her legacy lives on with our three lovely children and five grandchildren of which I am immensely proud and who Julie adored.
Thank you to everyone for the messages of sympathy and support at this difficult time.
And for the many affectionate tributes to Julie who will be sorely missed by all who knew and loved her.
Rest in peace my darling.

Poem ‘Do Not Stand at My Grave and Weep’

Do not stand at my grave and weep, I am not there
I do not sleep
I am a thousand winds that blow
I am the sunlight on ripened grain
I am the gentle autumn rain
When you awaken in the mornings hush
I am the soft uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight
I am the soft stars that shine at night
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there, I did not die.


Closing Music

‘Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me’ by Elton John and George Michael