Carolyn Festa
 
Such a special, inspirational, kind, healing, listening, advising, fun loving lady that we were lucky enough to know and love. Our guru.
 
Where to start? We were introduced to  Carolyn in 2007 by Faye Varty. At the time we just had our son Max and were struggling to conceive another child. Carolyn spent much time and energy and many sessions with us and in August 2010, our daughter, Grace Evangeline arrived – a dream come true - and as a family we all adopted Carolyn’s ethos and approach.
 
For Ian, myself and various friends and family, there were numerous homeopathic treatments at Bowes Road over the years. When they moved, we continued appointments at Lakeside often with tiny Belle curled up on my chest while Carolyn treated me. I firmly believe that testament to an individual is how children respond to them, both Max & Grace would always say “we need to see Carolyn” if they were feeling unhappy or unwell – she always made them feel better, they thought she was just wonderful – and she was.
 
We met Gary properly the year Grace was born and fast became friends – as a couple they had such a zest for life and a busy social scene – charity events, dinners, parties and so on. Socialising as a four generally meant Gary and I drank too much wine while Ian and Carolyn put the world to rights. I loved the very special relationship between Ian and Carolyn, to this day, Ian holds her in such high regard, she was much like a mother figure to him over the years – so kind and supportive and loving, always keen and happy to meet and give advice or just listen.
 
In May 2017, Carolyn had just returned from a long Australia trip and Gary was still out there.  Ian and I arranged to take Carolyn to her favourite restaurant, Sushi Samba in the City.  We had a truly magical evening eating, chatting and laughing – she had a wicked sense of humour at times that made you laugh out loud! That evening we both thought, she looked so well and rested – totally refreshed and frankly just beautiful.
 
Over the next couple of years we continued to see Carolyn as a homeopath and friend but sadly as her cancer worsened we progressively saw less and less of her. I suppose we felt that we didn’t want to intrude at such a personal, family time. Gary was amazing as was her great friend Nicola, both of whom kept us in touch when Carolyn wasn’t able to keep in touch herself.
 
I was lucky enough to visit her at the Princess Alice Hospice in January 2020. I was so saddened to see her so frail but so heartened to see that she still had so much of her spirit that we know and love and that made her Carolyn.
 
Over the next several weeks Carolyn and I chatted over text mostly – usually referring to me as her Wood Nymph the way she always had.  Somehow she seemed to find time and energy to talk or failing that she would share videos of gorgeous Phoebe and Rory – her utter pride and joy.
 
We lost Ian’s dad the last Tuesday in February and Carolyn the first Tuesday in March  this year – too much to take in terms of loss and then lockdown. We feel, as I am sure so many do, that we have been unable to say goodbye to Carolyn properly and to remember her as the special person she was.
 
We had a few socially distanced drinks with Gary last night and it was wonderful to chat and reminisce and laugh too. Us all telling stories about Carolyn and what she meant and how she really touched our lives with her wonderful, healing heart.
 
So on that note, fly high with the angels you lovely lady, have a glass of Laurent Perrier Rose and a brownie to boot – we miss you today but will remember you always.