We recently posted that one of our clients, Dean, had passed away. Today was his funeral. In attendance were 7 people, including 4 of our team. The other 3 people also represented services that Dean had come into contact with over the years. There was no next of kin, no friends, no-one else.
Here are the words that Becky, his support worker from Simon on the Streets, read out:
‘What can I say about Dean?
Dean was an extraordinary person. He would envoke frustration within the people around him, everthing was Dean’s way and he would only do exactly what he wanted, when he wanted. This defiance was normally paired with anger and pain. Dean was angry with himself and the situation he had been in for so many years.
But through all of this, Dean would allow these moments where he would show you the person he really was, behind all his armour. In these times, Dean would have a wicked sense of humour and a high sense of morality.
Dean was an insightful and very intelligent man, which he would never let you forget! Within these snippets he would have a devilish grin, accompanied by this vulnerability that I struggle to put into words.
I am grateful to have seen Dean on the Friday before he passed away. Dean had been shopping, he had gone for food and he had held a bird of prey. Shopping and going out for food is something we don’t think all that much of. But Dean was so proud of himself and what he’s accomplished that week. Rather the than remembering that last time I saw him, just a few days later, I will remember him that Friday, showing me all that he had bought, telling me what he had eaten and showing me the photos he had taken.
Dean was by far my most challenging client, but certainly one of the most amazing.’
From all of us at Simon on the Streets.