Pat Radford dies

Ms Patricia Radford has died at the age of 89.

Known to many as "Pat", Ms Radford was recognised within the Peninsula community for her volunteer work with Rotary, the Uniting Church and Probus.

Wife of Rod Radford, mother to Barbara, Margaret, Ian and Graham, and six grandchildren, Ms Radford also worked alongside her husband to establish a successful and well respected pharmacy in Ettalong.

Ms Radford's daughter Ms Margaret Edwards said she would always remember her mother for her quiet nature, amazing inner strength, sharp mind and quick wit.

Ms Radford was the third child of Augustus and Ethel Coxon and was born on March 17, 1921.

Her parents had met on the ship coming out from England and after a shipboard romance were married at St Andrews Cathedral and settled in Sydney.

Her childhood was mainly spent in Ashfield and she attended a local Anglican school.

"She told many stories of happy holidays at Blackheath and Cronulla," Ms Edwards said.

"The Depression changed all that and she had to leave school and get employment to support her mother and sister as her father and brother had returned to England with the hope of getting better employment and the family was to follow.

"Unfortunately this was not to happen and it was not until after the war that her father was able to return home.

"After leaving school, she worked in the Queen Victoria Building for the Sun Alliance Insurance Company for the sum of two pounds a week but heard there was employment at the AGL for nearly six pounds so she applied and went to work in their accounts section at Burwood.

"It was here that she met my father and that was the beginning of the next chapter of her life as a wife."

Mr and Mrs Radford recently celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary.

"She was a devoted wife who supported and participated in all dad's interests and activities," Ms Edwards said.

"She worked beside him in the pharmacy as dispensary assistant, doing home deliveries, doing the wages books and in the early days would help with the developing and printing of the photos.

"She would help in the dark room which was actually our laundry and then rinse the negatives in the salt water at the beach near our house.

"She was involved with dad's Rotary, in the Church and more recently Probus.

"Just two weeks ago, she collected the last of the Rotary Bowel Scan kits from the local pharmacies so they could be returned to pathology.

"She did this only hours after she had seen the specialist and been diagnosed with leukaemia.

"This was just another example of her commitment to others and really quite amazing considering that she was in her 90th year.

"As a mum, she was second to none with her love, care and attention.

"When I was at boarding school, she would always come to Sydney to visit me on my birthday and bring a novelty cake, such as a school hat.

"The rest of the boarders would get their boring cakes delivered from David Jones.

"An avid correspondent, she wrote twice a week and I still have a packet of her letters from my days in London.

"She supported us in all our endeavours and was always there offering quiet encouragement and assistance.

"We have been overwhelmed by the affection shown towards our mother in the recent weeks.

"I have taken calls from folk who have experienced her kindness and support and are so grateful for her help in getting them through difficult times.

"How lucky we have been to have had such a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother and friend."

Ms Radford passed away peacefully on August 16.

Her funeral was held at Umina Uniting Church on August 19.

Letter, 25 Aug 2010 Margaret Edwards, Wagstaffe