My mum was a beautiful, graceful woman who touched the lives of everyone she met. At the age of 19, she left her home in Burma to marry my dad in Gloucester, UK, beginning a new chapter filled with love, sacrifice and devotion. Together, they built a family, raising five children and welcoming the joy of 14 grandchildren.

Mum was the youngest of 16 siblings, cherished deeply by her family. She had a heart full of love and a spirit full of strength. At 45, she faced a difficult battle when she was diagnosed with breast cancer - she embraced the challenges of the treatment with resilience.

She and Dad opened their home to foster children, offering love and stability to those in need.

Mum was always eager to learn and grow. She started an Alimah course, and my dad, ever her biggest supporter, made sure she never had to worry about anything at home, dinner was always cooked and ready when she returned from her classes. When Dad passed away, she observed her Iddah (waiting period) for four months, but refused to fall behind in her studies. Her classmates, mostly teenagers studying for their GCSEs and A-Levels, rallied around her, ensuring she stayed up to date. She was the eldest in her class, yet she found inspiration in the younger students and spoke so highly of them. In 2018, at the age of 62, Mum proudly graduated as an Alimah.

Her love for learning turned into a passion for teaching. She began working with children in both primary school and madrasah, and her students adored her. She had a way of making each child feel seen and valued. 

Mum was proud of all she had accomplished, she had become an independent woman who embraced life’s challenges with courage and grace.

Faith was at the heart of who she was. Mum wore a strict Burkah for herself, yet she never let it hold her back from enjoying life. She loved going out with friends, embracing new experiences, and hosting her children and grandchildren during every term holiday, ensuring everything was lovingly prepared for their arrival.

On the 8th of October 2024, we lost our beloved mum. After she had passed, we learned that Mum had been battling pancreatic cancer. A diagnosis she never knew she had.

Mum leaves behind more than memories she leaves a legacy of strength, courage, and compassion. She touched the lives of so many, from the very young to the very old. 

Mum was not just a mother, a grandmother, or a teacher. She was a woman who showed us all what it means to be strong. She taught us that no obstacle is too great, no dream too distant, and no act of kindness too small. Though she is no longer with us, her strength lives on in the lives she touched and in those of us who were lucky enough to call her our mum.