In loving memory of

Toni Merlehan

Born St Thomas’s hospital London SE1 and died St Mary’s hospital London W2
47
1968 – 2015
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What can I say about my Mumma Toni, there’s too much to be put into words. She was so much more than just a mother, she touched the lives of so many. But to me she was everything, the best mother anyone could wish for. She was the most courageous, confident, inspirational human being that I have ever known. She was beautiful inside and out and her positivity would rub off on anyone in her presence. She could light up any room, make anyone laugh and always the life and soul of the party.. in fact she brought the party! She was so glamorous and even at her worst no one truly knew how much she was suffering. speaking of suffering she went through an awful lot of it! She was fierce and a true warrior, she took on any challenge thrown her way. Peripheral vascular disease took over her life in 2007 and she spent every single day from then fighting for her life. Her 48th surgery was meant to be the one, the one to prolong her life 10 or more years. Little did we know it would be the one to kill her, all involved were beyond shocked. She was so special in so many ways that she will never be forgotten, we should all keep a little of her zest for life and love with us. My mumma, my best friend. Thank you for being you.
We held a beautiful memorial service in Our Lady of Victories church Kensington High Street, London (The same church Amie’s christening was held) and afterwards at the Britannia pub in Kensington W8. The church service was led by rev’d Sharon who was a friend of Toni whom she had met years before in Chelsea & Westminster hospital on one of her many stays. Only Toni would manage to have a Protestant rev’d to carry out a church service in a Catholic Church! It was a lovely day with lots of Toni’s family and friends and a great chance for people in London to say goodbye if they could not make it to her funeral in Ireland. Toni’s funeral was held 19th July 2015 in the Church of the blessed Trinity Moone, Co.Kildare and was led by Fr.Frank McEvoy and Fr.Michael from Bolton Abbey Monastery. We heard Whitney Houston I will always love you and shall we gather at the river as requested by Toni. Another song we had was Amazing Grace which was also requested by Toni, but we were honoured to have it sung by a dear friend Eamon McRory. The poem do not stand at my grave and weep was read at her graveside. As per Toni’s request we all wore a splash of colour! After the ceremony we went to The Schoolhouse Castledermot. Another lovely day with friends and family sharing photos and memories.

Resting Place

Cemetery adjoining the Church of the blessed trinity, Moone, Co.Kildare
Live. Laugh. Love. Always have courage and be kind
In a letter she wrote to Amie before her final surgery (the week before she died) she had wrote “always remember I tried my best… don’t cry I am in heaven loved, I am not afraid. God loves me and I won’t be alone”.The last thing Toni every said before she passed was to her daughter Amie “I need you to know I love you so so much”
Toni’s parents separated when she was just a baby and the family split up, herself and her big sister Roma lived with her father and step family where Roma pretty much raised her. When she was a young teenager she went to live with her ‘little nanny’ Mary in Oval, london. These were the happiest years of her childhood, enjoying her nanny’s Lancashire hotpots and trips to the seaside Leysdown-on-sea on the coast of the Isle of Sheppey in Kent. Toni was cheeky, sociable and adventurous from a young age- she even shaved off all her hair!
Toni was born to Anthony (Tony) and Heather Miller. Toni had 2 older sisters- Roma who passed away in 2007 and Tracey who lives in the UK. She also had 2 younger step siblings. She was like a second mother to her sister Romas 2 boys Michael and Jack, especially after Roma passed away. She married Patrick Merlehan in October 1989 and had 1 daughter – Amie. She also was like an adoptive mother to Camilla.
Toni was once a professional model featuring in magazines and on a record cover. She learned how to practice reiki healing and reflexology. She studied art at college as an adult.
Toni was a social butterfly, the life and soul of the party. She loved entertaining and was the best at it, she held amazing dinner parties and hosted celebrations. She was an excellent cook and cooked a wide variety of food, even learnt how to cook traditional cous cous whilst in Morocco and it became a firm favourite. She enjoyed theatre shows, watching a good film or the soaps on tv. Loved reading books, spiritualism and healing. Loved girly days out, manicures, pedicures, coffee dates. She worshiped the sun and would go on holiday as often as she could! She loved to travel and meet new people, she could talk to anyone. She lit up a room and had the ability to make anyone laugh (even if they didn’t want to). She loved music and had a huge mixture of genres she’d enjoy listening to! Most of all she loved spending time with her family, she absolutely valued her family especially those she married into as she came from none of her own apart from her sister who she sadly lost.

Memorable Media
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  • Whitney Houston - I Will Always Love You 00:00
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  • Amazing Grace - Eamon McRory 00:00
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