Tributes to council clerk who ‘shared love and joy’

A FUNERAL service was held to remember the life of the former clerk of Whitchurch Parish Council.

More than 100 people attended the service held at St Mary’s Church to remember the life of Jane Yamamoto, who died aged 58 on August 5.

She had planned to marry her husband James Norman in September but she was diagnosed with terminal cancer in April. The duo tied the knot at home five days before she died.

The service, on Tuesday last week, was led by Rev James Leach.

Four tributes were read by Mr Norman, her two sons, Matthew and Michael Kunov, her “tennis husband” Charlie Jackson and former neighbour, Jodie Smythe.

Matthew described his mother as hardworking and dedicated. He said: “She balanced her career with a multitude of other things, as well as her unwavering love and commitment as a mother.

“No matter how busy she was, Michael and I were always her priority and she worked relentlessly to support and help us. Whether it was driving around, making us food or simply sitting down to listen, she was always there to give us her time. She gave us not just love but also the confidence to grow and flourish.”

He explained that he had written a letter expressing his gratitude and promising to carry on her life lessons to keep her memory alive. But he never got to read it to her.

Her youngest son, Michael, shared anecdotes about her bravery, recalling her skydiving experience.

He said: “Two years ago in Canada, we had the chance to go skydiving. She didn’t even hesitate before opting in and even said yes before I did. The night before, I could barely sleep and she spent it looking up past accidents.

“On the ascent, the plane was rattling and the sliding door was loose and dodgy. Internally, I was panicking but not Mum. She was smiling the whole time, completely immersed in the experience.

“As we both fell from over 12,000ft and survived the 99.99 per cent odds, she told me it was the most fun and least stressful part of the whole trip — The same bravery defined her till the very end.”

Even after receiving a terminal diagnosis, Jane turned the conversation around to comfort and reassure him.

He said: “The same bravery and selflessness defined her till the very end.

“When she got her diagnosis, it was a shock to us all. I was trying to be strong for her and I said: ‘Everything’s going to be okay’, She just replied with ‘Yes, you’ll be okay’. In true Jane fashion, she turned around to comfort me and thought about us right until the end.

“While we feel her loss so deeply, I know she’s never truly gone. She lives on in our memories, the stories we tell and in the way we try to be a little more loving and compassionate.”

Mr Jackson, with whom she played doubles at tennis since 2020, explained how she was a central figure of the tennis community. He said: “Jane had nicknames for everyone in the tennis community. If anyone had a nickname, they knew they were part of Jane’s inner circle, so it was an honour.

“When we were playing a doubles match, she once walked off the court mid-game when I was serving and it was our advantage. As I tossed the ball up, I could hear the gate click and Jane was walking off the court halfway through the point. I looked around and she’d gone to talk to a cat that had walked past.”

Ms Smythe described Jane as the “fairy godmother” to her two children, Yanni and Elektra.

She said: “When they were tiny babies, I would often arrive tired or in low spirits. It would be witching hour and everyone was crying but I always left uplifted. She was a gentle guide for me. She had a way of quietly observing and noticing the special qualities of Yanni and Elektra. It was her way of reassuring me and showing me the good.

“Even in the more challenging moments, she often drew on her own experiences raising her wonderful boys.”

Her husband, James, said: “It is with infinite sadness that I am saying goodbye. If anyone deserved a long and happy life, it was Jane. She gave such love and joy and was still in the midst of life, still young, fit, and very healthy when this terrible illness took her away.

“Yet even in this grief, I feel very blessed that I knew her and even more blessed that I loved her and she loved me.”

He finished by reading her Valentine’s card to him this year, which she wrote before her cancer diagnosis.

Mrs Yamamoto, who was of Japanese descent, was born on April 5 in Toronto, Canada.

As an adult, she lived in France, Germany and Sweden, speaking all those languages fluently. She spent her last 25 years in England.

Throughout her life, she had several careers, including as an investment banker and professional chef. She moved to Whitchurch in 2002.

The parish council held a minute of silence for her at the start of its meeting yesterday (Thursday).