Eulogy Abe was born Abraham Morris Grauman to Lithuanian parents, Mordicai and Sarah, in Johannesburg in 1935. He had 3 siblings - Mickey, Dolly and Dov, he was the 2nd born. He spoke only Yiddish until he went to school and then quickly learned English because he had to! He was troubled all his childhood by severe eczema which affected him badly but when he was twenty a dip in the Dead Sea on a trip to Israel cured it and he never suffered with it again. In his late twenties, he came to London and got a job in publishing which he loved and met the love of his life, Angela. They set up home in South Africa and had four children - Jonathan, Lisa, Dani and Jillie - and were there for twenty years. The children have vivid and happy memories filled with sunshine, swimming pools and all their extended family, cousins, aunts and uncles. After publishing Abe, branched into retail, opening a very successful sweet shop and two bookshops. The time came in the late eighties, just before apartheid ended, when a move back to England seemed the best thing for the family and the decision was made to leave South Africa and emigrate to Sussex where Abe set up another successful sweet shop. Sadly, there was a recession at the time and eventually the shop had to close, to his great disappointment. He then became a wonderful house husband while Angela nursed full time and would come home to a roaring fire, a lovely meal and he had even done the ironing! Later in life, he joined his son Jonathan in managing a car repair garage before retiring. His beloved grandchildren entered his life, starting with Toni in 1998 when he was 63 and he never wavered in his love and adoration of them all. Sadly, in 2012, at the age of 72, he was diagnosed with Parkinson's which slowly changed his life, slowing him down and making it hard to do the things he used to love. But he remained uncomplaining, dignified and courageous in the face of all that Parkinson’s threw at him. Although he did once say that Mr Parkinson should have kept it to himself! We are grateful that until the day he went into hospital he remained a comforting presence for all of us and especially for Angela. He will be missed every day but will always be in our hearts. Angela’s words I feel very grateful to Abe for being such a loving, generous and happy person with whom to spend my life. We came from different sides of the world, which I believe says we were always meant to meet and marry. He made me feel safe. I am so grateful to have been granted 55 years with him. I know his Parkinson’s made him very tired at the end. Covid did not find it difficult to get the better of him, He is not truly gone, just a brief separation, I have a thousand memories sustain me in that time. He was my rock. Song for Abe by Angela to the tune of “I Can See Clearly Now” (sung by Eva) You can move freely in the place you’ve gone You can walk so easily on your way No more hard times with Mr Parkinson You’re gonna have bright, bright sunshiny days I shall cry tears of sadness now you’re gone I shall feel such loneliness on my own But one day we’ll be together, no more pain And only have bright, bright sunshiny days   Jonathan’s words It is not possible to write down all the things that made our Dad an amazing father. For me, all of those things started and ended with his unconditional love for his family. No matter how difficult I was, how naughty, how foolish, how disappointing, he never once made me feel bad for anything. In fact, he often showed love and sympathy for me when I was feeling bad about being bad, or getting my just desserts. There was nothing he wouldn't have done for any of us and I always knew he would support me regardless of my misdeeds. To teach a child right from wrong without recrimination is a mean feat indeed. If I've turned out to be half the person he was, then I'm happy because that would still make me a mensch, which he truly was! I will miss him until we are all together again, as I know we will be. Lisa’s words My Dad was the best dad and Zaida anyone could ask for. His family meant everything to him and there was nothing he wouldn’t do for us all. He was always there for us and had so much patience, it was rare to hear Dad shout and he never lost his temper, which is quite an achievement when you have four unruly children! I loved his sense of humour, which never failed him, even when he was unwell, and he was the most generous person I knew - both with his time and his money - which he gave so freely to whoever needed it. I am so proud of the courage and dignity he showed in the face of his Parkinson’s which really did make life very hard for him. We will miss him painfully but he will always be in our hearts until we can all be together again. Dani’s words It’s impossible to put into words the love I have for my Daddy. He’s always been an absolute rock to us all and only ever given us the best of everything. He would solve any problem with a ‘What’s the matter choochi face’ and a ‘don’t worry, we’ll make a plan’, usually while drying any tears with his hanky and a big hug. I will miss him forever but carry forward the greatest gift he gave me of truly unconditional love and unwavering support. Jillie’s words He is and has always has been the best Daddy I could ever ask for. He was always there to fix things, to make things right, and with a hankie to dry my tears. He taught me so much and taught me how to appreciate food and enjoy cooking. And he gave the best hugs and kisses and could always comfort me when I was sad, upset or scared and would make me feel safe. He was a beautiful person who everyone loved.   Grandchildren’s words Our Zaida was the best Zaida. He was kind and caring and loving. He supported us all, through everything and anything. Zaida always loved spending time with us, his face would light up whenever we were with him, and we loved spending time with him just as much. Zaida was the best cook. We all loved Zaida burgers and chicken schnitzel, always finished off with ice cream and chocolate sauce. We will miss the comfort of Zaida asleep in his armchair. We all loved him so much, and we will never forget how much he loved us all. We were so lucky to have him as our Zaida, and couldn’t have asked for better. Dolly’s words My brother Abe, my friend , my protector. When we were in our teens if I never had a date he would always take me with him, and if one of my friends was at a loose end he would include her too. As young kids when we played dress up, I remember Abe would always dress up as the king, or whatever the game was he was always the head honcho. When my parents went out Abe would always go into the kitchen, he was a good cook and I remember he made great toffee. On my first trip to London, Abe was there and he took me around and gave me a grreat time, he was the first person to take me to a London theatre, we saw Sound of music, sat in the gods but I loved it. There are so many things I could say about my brother, but above all he was always kind,patient and so good to my kids. As a family we spent most Sunday”s and yomtovs together with our parents, all the kids and our other siblings. It was wonderful. The day then came when the family left our shores, we never saw enough of each other over the years but I always knew he was there and I could talk to him. I always hoped we would all still be able to see each other again, it was not meant to be. Rest in peace Abe, hope you are with mom, Dad, Mickey and Leon. Remembered always with love Dolly Dov’s words Being that I am a Grauman male I don’t really have much to say, I’m just so sorry that plans for a trip to England were not realised. We will of course miss my big brother but we have many wonderful memories of having lots of fun together,. I would like to apologise to him for the grief I caused him in my younger years and for being the total horror that I was. Also for all the cigarettes that I stole from him, I apologise! I will be forever grateful for him coming to fetch Gili and Aurit every Sunday while we worked in the hotel and then bringing them back in the evening, It must have been such a schlepp but he used to do it every Sunday with love. May he be a good interceder on high for his wonderful family and all of us. Words from Michelle, Beverley and Alan (nieces and nephew) We have many treasured childhood memories from outings to parks, milky lane, holidays, Sunday afternoon teas’s and yomtov’s spent together. We grew up close to our cousins and Aunty Ange and Uncle Abe, in fact stayed with them when our parents went away on many occasions. Uncle Abe was a kind, gentle man. He was quiet, it seemed to us he was always seen and present but he did not have to make himself heard. He loved his family more than anything, hence making the big move to London. We never got to see him in later years but will always remember him with much love.