Home   News   Article

Subscribe Now

Popular Diss midwife from Lopham area is laid to rest




After helping to bring two generations of children into the world over 35 years, a popular midwife has been laid to rest.

Rosemary Cook, who grew up in Bressingham and later lived in North and South Lopham, was well-known in the local area, having worked at Diss Health Centre for a large part of her career.

She married Ken Cook in 1967, with the Diss Express reporting on the event and describing the bride as “one of the best-known young ladies in Norfolk”.

Rosemary Cook was well know within the community having been a midwife for 35 years (42874524)
Rosemary Cook was well know within the community having been a midwife for 35 years (42874524)

In a eulogy at her funeral on Tuesday, close friend Jennie Vere said: “Rosemary was a community person through and through – to many different communities, of many shapes and sizes.

“She used her considerable talents to good effect when we were called on to entertain at group meetings, singing songs from yesteryear in her clear soprano voice, or joining in enthusiastically in our humorous sketches.

“We served together for a long time on the village hall committee, planning and running all kinds of events, especially the village fete. Rosemary’s willingness to embrace novel ideas, then carry them through to fruition, with meticulous attention to detail, is legendary.

Rosemary Cook was well know within the community having been a midwife for 35 years (42874526)
Rosemary Cook was well know within the community having been a midwife for 35 years (42874526)

“Rosemary was always ready to answer a call for help. She delivered magazines and newsletters around High Common for many years, and visited each house there with her RBL poppy pot in the autumn.”

As well as helping to deliver children for many families in the Diss area, including in some cases, two generations of new parents from the same family, Mrs Cook was involved in many groups and organisations, including Diss Young Farmers’ Club, St John the Baptist Church in Bressingham, village committees for North and South Lopham, and Lophams’ Ladies and Diss Stockmans Club.

As recognition of her effort, she received a community service award from Diss Rotary Club in 1988.

Mrs Cook retired from her role as a midwife in 1995 after spending decades not only supporting mothers through pregnancy but also organising mother and baby swimming sessions to give new parents a support network.

For the rest of her life, she was often recognised by people who would tell her that she had delivered their son or daughter.

Her own son, William, said: “Mum’s instinctively kind and easy manner with everyone she met naturally leant itself to a life spent caring for others.

“It also underpinned her active commitment to Diss and its local community. It was the way she was with everyone.

“I’m sure many people will remember mum with the same warmth and affection that she showed others throughout her life.”

Mrs Cook had two children of her own, William and James, fostered a third child, Joe, and had five grandchildren, Amber, Holly, Tom, Peter and Matthew.

She died peacefully at the Limes Retirement Home in Mellis on October 5, after a long illness. She was 79 years old.

Her funeral took place in Bressingham on Tuesday and donations in her memory may be sent to Rosedale Funeral Home by going online to www.rosedalefuneralhome.co.uk.



This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies - Learn More