Family and friends of Linda Brodie celebrated her life festooned with vibrant, happy colours - but her three sons were banned from raising a toast to her on the day.
Those were two of three instructions the beloved mum and grandmother left. The last was no pink coffin, despite loving the colour.
“She was still the boss,” noted son Gordon.
Almost 200 people attended the recent service to honour her legacy. But it also marked the passing of her late husband, Tony, who died during Covid restrictions, and only 18 could be present at that time.
Linda Ray Brodie was born on November 14, 1947 to Ray and Tommy Beattie, a train driver who took the family in 1952 from Helensburgh to then Northern Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe.
Linda was a “girly” wee girl who loved pretty dresses and looked back fondly at her time in Africa - the sunshine, swimming and school. Her best friend at the time, Heather, was one of many watching Linda’s recent funeral at Cardross Crematorium remotely from around the globe.
Linda’s brother John and his family in Australia watched online and contributed their memories to the service.
In 1963, Linda returned to Scotland and began training as a nurse, but later stepped away having found it “very strict” while “ironing starched collars every other day”, said her family.
She became a telephonist at the GPO and also worked for a period on Mull. When her sons were older, she worked various jobs and retired as a home help.
Linda met Tony Brodie at Rhu Dance Hall and they married on September 18, 1970, starting five decades of happy life together.
They welcomed Iain, Scott and Gordon, and later grandchildren Stuart, Ross, Kirsty, Logan, Ruairi and Blair.
Gordon told the Advertiser that his mum was a “remarkable woman”, and he praised her bravery, resilience and strength.
Linda was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2016 and then a lesion on her pancreas, successfully putting both behind her.
Then Tony was diagnosed with cancer in 2019 and again in 2020, with him then being admitted to hospital and contracting Covid. Tony passed away on October 19 that year.
A scan in 2021 found Linda’s cancer had returned, now in her lungs. Despite a successful operation, she was diagnosed with stage 4.
It was another 18 months without worrying about the disease when Linda was told it had returned in November.
The family took a trip to Benidorm that month to celebrate Linda’s 75th birthday.
Gordon said: “I can tell you that it was one of the best trips of our lives.
“We laughed, got drunk, argued, got tattoos, ate horrendous food, sang songs, danced, chatted and gave what I’m sure mum wanted,to be a mum one final time with her three boys and give us memories that we will never forget.
“Mum was fiercely loyal and proud of her three boys. She actively took part in all our lives and that to her was the most important thing to my mum, family.”
There were trips over the years to visit family in Australia and well as holidays in America, Egypt and elsewhere. There were many stories shared from those trips, at the service and the celebration of her life afterwards.
Linda was a keen dog lover and, like the rest of her family, enjoyed football. She “inadvertently” spent two thirds of her life following Rhu Amateurs, where Gordon is now manager of the club’s Caledonian League team.
Even in declining health, Gordon said after Saturday matches, his mum’s first question was: “How did the Rhu get on the day?”
Gordon said his brother Scott recounted his mum’s happiness when he had his civil partnership to Andrew.
And Iain recalled when he was 10, he kept getting told off by his mum for returning home with several pairs of trousers ruined at the knees. So Linda sent her eldest to school - in winter - in a pair of shorts. Iain cried all the way in the cold.
Gordon added: “She was without doubt the most amazing Granny and Nannie to both Iain and my kids. I know I can speak on behalf of the grandkids to say that they will never forget you and love you more than you’ll ever know.
“As Blair says, Nannie is now up on the moon with Pal.”
Linda passed away on January 13. The family thanked district nurses and donations were welcomed to Pancreatic Cancer UK.
Linda is remembered by children Iain (Catherine), Scott (Andrew), Gordon (Laura), grandchildren Stuart, Ross, Kirsty and Logan, Ruairi and Blair, brother John (Marian) and nieces Ali, Shannon and Jess, along with friends Jeanette and Liz, and many others.
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