Cigarette wreath for 105-year old smoker - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Kazza · 12-15-2004, 12:43 PM

LONDON (Reuters) - Nursing home staff paid tribute to a 105-year old British woman who had smoked since the age of 15 by cremating her with a packet of cigarettes and laying a large floral cigarette on her coffin.

Marie Ellis died -- of natural causes -- at the Eaton Lodge Nursing Home in Kent, southeast England, in early December and was cremated on Tuesday, clutching a packet of her favorite Benson and Hedges cigarettes.

"We will always remember her for her smoking because the first thing she asked when she got up was 'Can I have a cigarette,'" said matron Maria Kallis, who commissioned a large wreath in the shape of a cigarette, made with white and yellow chrysanthemums, for the spinster's coffin.

The enigmatic Ellis, an ex-typist, arrived at the nursing home 15 years ago.

Apart from her 15-a-day habit, she was also notorious among staff for her unhealthy eating habits, often asking for sugar in her soup and always demanding three sugars in her coffee.

Staff played the song Smoke Gets in Your Eyes at Ellis' funeral and are planning a memorial concrete ashtray for her in the nursing home garden, where her ashes will also be buried.

*Pleasant Tomorrow* · 12-15-2004, 02:37 PM

Wow...

Hollow · 12-15-2004, 03:44 PM

what a disgusting memorial. good lord.

*Pleasant Tomorrow* · 12-15-2004, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by safety pin
what a disgusting memorial. good lord.

*shrugs* If it was her passion...

Penny Lane · 12-15-2004, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by safety pin
what a disgusting memorial. good lord.

At least they are going to make a concrete ashtray as a memorial/tribute!That's more than most of us will get!

Caffeine King · 12-15-2004, 05:34 PM

wtf?

Sterling Holobyte · 12-15-2004, 05:57 PM

Wow. How come some people can do everything they can to destroy their bodies and yet live to a ripe old age? Is it all in the mind?

Kay Scarpetta · 12-15-2004, 06:47 PM

Wow.... wow.

Janice · 12-15-2004, 06:50 PM

She beat the odds, and that's great. However, most smokers are not as fortunate. I watched my mother waste away from lung cancer. Many of my parent's friends have died from cancer. They came from a generation where just about everybody smoked.

Lady T · 12-17-2004, 07:24 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Janice
She beat the odds, and that's great. However, most smokers are not as fortunate. I watched my mother waste away from lung cancer. Many of my parent's friends have died from cancer. They came from a generation where just about everybody smoked.

I am glad that I finally quit smoking; it is a disgusting and a very expensive habit, and I am proud to say that it has been five months for me (knock on wood)

Belair · 12-17-2004, 07:54 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by safety pin
what a disgusting memorial. good lord.

My thoughts exactly

crystals · 12-17-2004, 11:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by safety pin
what a disgusting memorial. good lord.

I agree. I'm thinking now of what will happen when someone who quit smoking will have on their grave. A wreath of nicorette.

12-15-2004, 12:43 PM	#1
Kazza Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 17, 2003 Posts: 3,244	Cigarette wreath for 105-year old smoker LONDON (Reuters) - Nursing home staff paid tribute to a 105-year old British woman who had smoked since the age of 15 by cremating her with a packet of cigarettes and laying a large floral cigarette on her coffin. Marie Ellis died -- of natural causes -- at the Eaton Lodge Nursing Home in Kent, southeast England, in early December and was cremated on Tuesday, clutching a packet of her favorite Benson and Hedges cigarettes. "We will always remember her for her smoking because the first thing she asked when she got up was 'Can I have a cigarette,'" said matron Maria Kallis, who commissioned a large wreath in the shape of a cigarette, made with white and yellow chrysanthemums, for the spinster's coffin. The enigmatic Ellis, an ex-typist, arrived at the nursing home 15 years ago. Apart from her 15-a-day habit, she was also notorious among staff for her unhealthy eating habits, often asking for sugar in her soup and always demanding three sugars in her coffee. Staff played the song Smoke Gets in Your Eyes at Ellis' funeral and are planning a memorial concrete ashtray for her in the nursing home garden, where her ashes will also be buried.

12-15-2004, 02:37 PM	#2
Pleasant Tomorrow Member Forum Addict Join Date: Feb 19, 2003 Location: New York Posts: 69,525	Wow...
	__________________ my name is ashlee Welcome! Everything is fine.

12-15-2004, 05:57 PM	#7
Sterling Holobyte Harper House Senior Member Join Date: Nov 07, 2002 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 2,896	Wow. How come some people can do everything they can to destroy their bodies and yet live to a ripe old age? Is it all in the mind?
	__________________ "Let it go. Forget about it. Try smiling." -Michael Harris WPIV studio producer/shoe salesman/grocery store employee/Ex-sanitarium patient/Stephanie's boyfriend-then husband --------------------------------------------------- My 2nd First Blog:http://saturdaymorningfunnies.wordpress.com/

12-15-2004, 06:47 PM	#8
Kay Scarpetta Defy Gravity 8.26.05 Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 04, 2001 Location: La Vie Boheme Posts: 28,013	Wow.... wow.
	__________________ The people who think they know everything about Broadway make me laugh. They've never seen a Broadway play in their life. "oh mi godddd RENT's a mooovie! lyke 525600 minuuuuuuutes!" No. To be a Broadway Freak, you must live, eat, sleep, study, devout, think, obsess, dream, believe Broadway. You must know original & revival casts, soundtracks, performance runs, dates, theatres, numbers, how many Tony Awards A Chorus Line won. You must be Broadway. That's right bitches. I AM Broadway.

12-15-2004, 03:44 PM	#3
Hollow Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Dec 16, 2001 Posts: 30,406	what a disgusting memorial. good lord.

12-15-2004, 05:34 PM	#6
Caffeine King I Love Rayanne Graff Forum Regular Join Date: Jun 01, 2004 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 622	wtf?

12-15-2004, 06:50 PM	#9
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	She beat the odds, and that's great. However, most smokers are not as fortunate. I watched my mother waste away from lung cancer. Many of my parent's friends have died from cancer. They came from a generation where just about everybody smoked.