[guide.chat] Funeral of winnie johnson

From: "Carol O'Connor" <missbossyboots33@xxxxxxxxx>
To: "guide chat" <guide.chat@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Thu, 30 Aug 2012 12:59:55 +0100

Funeral of Winnie Johnson held in Manchester. 
August 30, 2012
 
Winnie Johnson spent decades searching for her son Keith's body on Saddleworth 
Moor Winnie Johnson spent decades searching for her son Keith's body on 
Saddleworth Moor 
Family and friends gathered to pay tribute to Winnie Johnson, mum of Moors 
Murder victim Keith Bennett.
Around 300 people packed into her local church St Chrysosthom's in Victoria 
Park, Manchester.
In an emotional service, tributes were paid to Winnie as a 'open, down-to-earth 
straight-speaker who had deep love and a sense of joy in her heart.'.
The funeral address was given by St Chrysosthom's priest Father Ian Gommersall 
who knew Winnie for many years.
He said: "We have heard how Winnie was a practical, forthright and even 
formidable woman, mother and grandmother.
"The messages in the book of condolence tell of a woman highly respected, 
honoured and admired in this community and beyond it.
"Winnie was above all a woman and a mother of this area.
"In this part of the world she spent her life, made her home, brought up her 
children and made her friends."
Father Gommersall also added that although tragedy struck for Winnie and her 
family when Keith was taken, her resolve to give her son a final resting place 
has been 'an inspiration to many'.
Winnie's grandson, Stephen Prescott, also paid tribute saying Winnie had 'an 
unabashed character with a smile on her face and love in her heart.'
He added: "She loved each and every one of us but showed it more by what she 
did rather than what she did."
Mr Prescott said: "You will always be missed, never be forgotten and always 
have a place in our hearts. I love you Grandma."
Flowers were left on the ground outside the church on Oxford Place while floral 
tributes in pink and white spelled out 'Nan' and 'Gran' in the back of the 
hearse, which carried Winnie's coffin.
The funeral was attended by Manchester Central MP Tony Lloyd and councillors 
representing Levenshulme and Rusholme.
One of the bouquets in the hearse was from Greater Manchester Police.
Music at the funeral included Winnie's favourite hymns and a song by The Kinks.
Winnie, who was 78, died in the early hours of Saturday 18th August.
[guide.chat] Funeral of winnie johnson

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