It is with great regret that we announce that Daphne McNeill passed away peacefully yesterday evening at 7pm. A long time resident of Jimena, Daphne Mac (to her friends) will be remembered for her wit and good cheer. Cremation takes place today at a private family ceremony and a celebration of her long life will take place at a time and place to be announced. Our deepest condolences to her family, who should know that a Spanish friend of hers said this morning, "Daphne is one of those people who will leave her mark. She will be sorely missed." (See a lovely obituary by Louie Castle below.)>
Daphne and Mac first came to Jimena on a visit to some friends she had met while living on a yacht in Estepona harbour. They had recently retired and were having a cruise just to see what would turn up. They fell for Jimena as we all do and bought the house in Calle Sol as a temporary measure. However, it turned into a quarter of a century temporal. People who knew them at the time they were still yachting report very happy memories of them, there was always a lovely atmosphere: Mac's very considerable knowledge so lightly worn and Daphne's enthusiasm for any new venture so real. Mac and Daphne enjoyed each other's company enormously. Mac was exactly as you would have hoped; smiley and easy but nobody's fool. Mac and Daphne were the best of friends and respected and loved each other in equal measure. Daphne lookd after Mac in his last illness with devotion and care and untiring patience.
When Mac retired from the Merchant Navy they had a hotel on Guernsey. Daphne was always beautifully turned out and careful of her person, she had a terrific colour sense and always looked neat and smart. She had a happy trick of always having something amusing or interesting to say specially to you and made you feel that she had been thinking about you. The hotel was a wonderfully cheerful and welcoming place.
When Mac died Daphne continued to live in the little house in Calle Sol surrounded by adoring old friends and many new ones and introducing us to her extremely nice family. Here special mention must be made of her new friend Dot for the unstinting love and care she has given Daphne these past months for which Daphne's friends are very grateful.
Daphne had a most ample character. Everybody was given the benefit of the doubt and a kindlier, more generous person would be difficult to find. However, if there is one adjective which describes Daphne is is happy. If anybody had worked out how to enjoy life it was she, and her enjoyment went out from her like the ripples of a stone tossed into a pond. To meet Daphne was to meet a really happy human being; to meet Daphne was to have been given a wonderful example; to met Daphne was a lesson in improving the world; be nice, be nice to people, make them laugh, laugh at their silly jokes, make them feel good about themselves.
Dearest Daphne, we shall miss you so terribly: particularly at the cocktail hour.
I know everybody joins the writer in celebrating Daphne's life, she has enriched ours. We are all diminished, but we give thanks.
For she's a jolly good fellow.
4 comments:
Oh Daphne, you enhanced our lives in so many ways. We shall remember you for ever.
With so much love,
Mike, Chris and the kids (our animals!)
XXX
During the decade or so that my father and his wife (Mike & Chris) lived in Jimena, I tried to visit at least once a year, and the highlight of each occasion came when we called in to see Daphne. I adored the twinkle in her eye, I loved how she always remembered details about my life, and hugely admired her constant good humour. She was half a century older than me but there was no sense of an age gap ... she was engaging, full of curiosity, totally non-judgemental, and utterly marvellous. Quite simply, she was possibly the nicest person I have ever met. I'm terribly sad that she has passed ... but I'm also extremely happy and grateful that I had the honour and joy to know her.
Daph, I'm raising a G&T to you! Cheers! xxx
I was so sorry to hear of Daphne's passing. I only met her a few times, as she was finding it difficult to get out. Her wit was amazing and I will miss one of Jimena's outstanding characters.
For us it was always Macn'Daf. We have known them for thirty five years because we met them when they were running Wyndham's Hotel in Guernsey just at the time when we moved there in the '70s. We enjoyed many hilarious evenings in the bar and many Palm Sunday curries. Both of them were so kind and helpful to the newcomers. Mac and Bob were both Scots and both sailors and sailed together many times. When they retired (again)came to Spain we came to visit and fixed, like so many other, on Jimena, mainly because they were there. Here is to them both (in GandT and in Bells's) From Rosemary and Bob
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