By MARG STORK
A KEEN knitter, gardener and excellent cook, Bessie Marshall, pictured, lived a happy and contented life in Australia.
But one of her final wishes was that her ashes be taken back to her homeland, England — a request her family will fulfil next year when they will scatter Mrs Marshall’s ashes on her mother’s grave.
Mrs Marshall was born in Carrington, England, the daughter of Edmond and Annie Roberts. She met her future husband James Marshall when she was 20 and he was 18, while working in an engineering company factory.
The couple married in 1946 and moved to Australia in 1986, making their home in Dandenong North.
Mrs Marshall was a caring wife and proud mother of three children — Leslie and his wife Gwyn who live in Perth; Jean, who lives in St Kilda; and Shirley, married to Alan Storey, also of Dandenong North. She derived great pleasure being with her nine grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. “Mum loved going to see Leslie and Gwyn, and Port Douglas was another of her favourite holiday resorts,” Shirley said.
Mr Marshall was with his wife when she died. She was 90.
She worshipped at St James’ Anglican Church in Dandenong, where about 60 mourners, including church friends, attended her funeral service. Le Pine’s Dandenong Funeral Service was in charge of the arrangements and a private cremation followed the service.
