A TRIBUTE
Our first president, ALISON RUTH ALCORN, died “in harness” in November 2007 aged 52.
She set the standards that CARING TOGETHER strives to maintain.
This tribute to her formed part of her funeral service. It was by her sister, Margaret and niece Claire……
Alison
To anyone who knew her Alison needs no introduction. She was simply, wonderfully, Alison. Say Alison, and you think of kindness and caring with fun and laughter, often at her own expense. You also think of understanding, seriousness and the gift of knowing exactly what will help in times of difficulty, pain and hardship. Alison was someone who gave her life to everybody else.
One word that you wouldn´t hear from her or think of in connection with Alison is ´no´. From the moment that she arrived in Spain more than 16 years ago, Alison started to touch many people´s lives and she said yes to every one of them. She took on any work that was offered to her, even if it meant that she was doing three jobs at the same time! Initially she spoke very little Spanish and always said that she would learn when her back was against the wall. Her first job here was as a nurse in the Intensive Care Unit in Clinica Benidorm. It´s hard to imagine any situation more difficult as a classroom for a language but, as we all know, she excelled and acquired the fluency that she used to help anyone and everyone.
Alison loved nursing and was exceptional at it, practising not only the science to the highest standard, but also the art. Over the years, Alison worked tirelessly as everything from midwife, practicante, translator and educator to first aider at Cruz Roja at Aqualandia. Even though Alison had no management training, she approached the task of running her own business head on, just as she did with every other challenge that was thrown at her. She never asked anyone to do anything that she wouldn´t have done herself, and if there was no one else available, she would do it all.
Alison hated asking people for money, and would have quite happily given her services for free, which is why she became so closely involved with Caring Together, the charity that supports care for the terminally ill who can´t afford to pay for it themselves. Having taken on the commitment of the business, she became as caring and concerned for her staff as she was for all of her patients and their families. If she had anything that was of use to someone in need she gave it.
Even so, it wasn´t all work! She loved all of her family so much and was only happy herself when everyone else was OK. She was the best sister in the world, the best daughter and aunt, as well as the very best friend. Without Alison the world is a poorer place: she managed to make it a much richer, kinder one for those around her.
When Alison became seriously ill, she didn´t want anyone to know because she didn´t want anyone to worry. She was always ´fine´! What she has been through over the last three years has been horrendous, but she continued to laugh and to be full of fun and generosity throughout. She would want us all to go on, continue her legacy, keep laughing and above all to be happy. Please remember her always with a smile. We give thanks for the grace of God in the life of Alison.
henry on September 16th 2008