Follow this tribute and get updates
User avatar
Anonymous
12 years ago

Probably the best thing Sandy and John ever did when moving to Melbourne in 1978 was not to settle in Beaumaris where they rented, but rather to buy the family home right next door to Des and Carolyn Neary. So began an enduring friendship between the two families not just the adults but also the children. Des had that remarkable knack, aided and abetted by Carolyn of enriching friendship. Through the years they travelled & shopped together, celebrated, ate and drank together, played cards together, gardened together. Never a cross word, never an unhappy moment, always positive – this was how Des was. Melissa loved that Des would pick her up from school as a 15 year old and with Carolyn take her to “Mr Terrence of Carlton” to have her hair braided. They would then drive to Maldon, car packed for the weekend, stopping on the way at the Eaglehawk Restaurant for dinner, where as a young Melissa recounted to Sandy and John “I was even allowed to order dessert”! She really appreciated that they treated her as a grown up. Such treasured memories. Anthony especially thanks Des for teaching him to play 500, for getting him into singer Kate Bush, for all the cat feeding money raked in over many years giving those beautiful cats the choicest cuts of meat which Des so fastidiously prepared. He was such a special man. Sophie’s fondest memories of Des were cooking and gardening moments – learning at under 10 years of age how to bone quail. Des’s love of food shaped her love of food. She remembers Des also for how he kept an eye out for her on the train as she travelled home from school on Wednesdays. So handsome in his navy blazer, happy after his weekly Men’s Lunch! But she loved Des most for his constant kind and gentle nature. And then there are Sandy and John’s memories of Des. Des always had a cheeky, catching smile that surfaced countless times over the years - such as when John couldn’t work out how to start the Mercedes in France as they holidayed together – choking with laughter at John’s ineptitude, Des pointed out all it needed was a little touch on the brake! He knew so much. On Wednesday, a few hours before he passed, Sandy took him a bunch of garden flowers including Nandina. As she put it in a vase she giggled and whispered to him that she had “pinched it from his garden next door” just like so many times over the years. She’s sure Des would have heard her and smiled inwardly. He was such a lovely man. We are all devastated, but happy he is resting in peace. No-one can take away our memories of our dear friend Des Neary.

User avatar
jsoxley
12 years ago

×
We use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. We do this to improve browsing experience and to show (non-) personalized ads. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional Always active
Statistics
Marketing
Accept Deny Manage Save
Privacy Policy