“Gone but never forgotten” is a phrase often used after loss. It means that even though someone is no longer here, their memory stays with us. They continue to shape our lives in small, everyday ways.
What “Gone But Never Forgotten” Means
For many people, it is more than just words. It is a way of holding on. A way of remembering someone who mattered.
For me, it is personal.
What It Means to Me
It was a hot summer’s day. 18th July 1996. I was fifteen.
I was looking forward to the end of term and the start of the holidays. But everything changed that day.
My Nan had been unwell for a couple of weeks and had gone into hospital a few days earlier. I never feared the worst. She had always been there. In my head, she always would be. The night before, she took a turn. It was a long night. Every time the phone rang, we felt that drop in our stomach. But the call didn’t come. Not that night. She was a fighter.
My parents kept me off school the next day. I’ve always been grateful for that. We stayed at home. Waiting. Hoping. At 2pm, the phone rang. Nan had died.
I had never lost anyone before. I didn’t know grief like that. It hit all at once.
Twenty years later, the phrase makes more sense than it ever did. It’s in the small things. The memories that surface without warning. The moments when you wish they were still here to see your life now.
I think about what she would make of my little boy. I don’t need to wonder. I know she would adore him.
She’s not here, but she’s still part of us. Her photograph still hangs on my wall. My son already asks about her,and he will know her story.
So Nan, I hope you’re proud of what you see. We miss you every day. Not a day goes by without a thought of you.
You may be gone. But you will never be forgotten.
Thank you for reading.
32 Comments
Lovely words Poppet. Nan would be very proud of us all. xxx
Xxx
Aw, this was such a beautiful post to read and such a wonderful way to remember her. A beautifully written and very touching post!
Thank you so much.
What a touching tribute to such a special member of your family. Very moving and beautifully written lovely. Thank you for sharing with us at #fartglitter x
Thank you so much x
Lovely post about someone so special to you. Thanks for sharing. #anything goes
Thank you 🙂
A lovely post, I’m sure your Nan would be very proud of you.
#fartglitter
Ah thank you, that’s kind.
What a lovely post, so touching! A very special way to remember someone so dear to your heart. #TwinklyTuesday
Thank you 🙂
This was so beautiful and made me hugely emotional. Today is ten years since we lost my second son so I completely sympathise with how sad anniversaries can be. Thinking of you. #fartglitter
Oh I am so sorry to hear that. I hope the day wasn’t too upsetting for you and sorry for making you emotional. Thank you for reading it on such a hard day. x
Ahh bless you. My son was also born in 2012, and my Nanna gone nearly 20 years too. I think of her still. She would love my boy so much – I just know it. And im sure yours would too #TwinklyTuesday
Thank you so much, and I’m sorry for your loss aswell. Bless them both.
A lovely post. It’s incredibly hard to cope will the loss of important people in your life. But the memories and thing they taught us always stay with us, so you’re right, they are never forgotten. #BloggerClubUK
Thank you so much.
What a lovely post and such a beautiful picture, she has such happiness and spirit in her eyes. Thanks for sharing such a lovely post and picture with the #bestandworst
Those are such lovely words, thank you. I love the photo.
Nan’s are so important. Mine died when I was 12 and I still remember the look in my father’s face as he told us and that feeling of disbelief even though she had been ill for years. xxx
#BloggerClubUK
I’m very lucky to have had such a special lady in my life. It’s hard to let them go. Thank you for reading and taking the time to comment. xx
Welldone for being able to write a post about someone so close to you 🙂 I bet she is watching over you enjoying taking in your family growing up. I lost my Grandad 18 years ago this summer and I still miss him terribly. I really related to your post xx #BloggerClubUK
Thank you so much, what lovely words. I’m sorry for the loss of your grandad. xx
I still miss my nan & think about her a lot. It’s lovely you have such great memories of her.
#BloggerClubUK
Thank you so much. It seems like a lot of people have related to this one. Thank you for reading.
Popping over from #fartglitter – sorry it’s taken a bit longer for me to comment but I started to read your post and it made me think of my grandad who passed away in 2005 and I got a bit too upset to post anything! I don’t think you ever really forget or get over the loss of a loved one, you just learn how to carry on with life. #fartglitter
Thank you for your lovely comment and for popping back to write it. I am so sorry to hear of your loss too. It does get easier over time, but you are right, they will never be forgotten.
Sorry for your loss. It sounds like you were blessed to have crossed paths with her. #bestandworst
Thank you 🙂
This is such a gorgeous heartfelt post. The first person who died that broke my heart was my grandad back in 2004. Every year I felt sad (and still do) but then I lost my dad 4 years ago and that just quashed everything. I know just what you mean about the wondering what they would think of the children, I know that Dad would adore Zach just like he did with my nephew. Unfortunately he never got to meet Zach as he passed away 2 months before he was born but I know he’d be real proud of all of us. Thanks for linking up with #TwinklyTuesday
I am so sorry to hear about your Dad and of course, your Grandad. It is so very hard. I like to think my Nan is looking down on us from somewhere and I’m sure your Dad and Grandad are too. Thanks for commenting.