The obituary notice of Monica PALFREY (Barry)

Five Christmas’s now Mona. Missed and loved as much as ever my darling little sister.

Miss you little sister❤️

Always thinking of you Mrs Palrey you were a beautiful kind hearted lady. RIP

I’ve only just learned of the sad news about Mrs Palfrey or Miss Barry as I first knew her and would like to pass on my condolences to her family. My first encounter with her was as a 4 year old pupil at Holy Family School in Sept 1979 when I was the first to arrive in her class on my first day of school and she was a recently qualified teacher. She asked me to help her put the straws into the small milk bottles on the desks ready for when the other children arrived and i knew instantly that I was going to enjoy being in her class. It was a delight having her as a teacher. All the pupils liked her and she had natural affinity with them. I remember her playing the piano for us to sing along in class and at break times when she was on duty she used to stand on the top of the steps in the playground having a cup of tea and smoking. She liked us to sing Faith of our Fathers Living Still because that was her favourite hymn. She was a dedicated teacher who showed kindness and concern for all her pupils, drawing respect in return. I remember when she became engaged, we used to ask to see her ring and then we all went to see her outside St Albans on her wedding day. I also remember her still teaching whilst she was pregnant with her twins. She was a wonderful lady with a quiet humility, eager to learn about her past pupils and taking genuine delight in their achievements. She made my schooldays very happy and will always be in my thoughts.