Sarah Duchesne

In Loving Memory

Sarah Duchesne

Born
26 February 1938
Passed
21 January 2026
Lived In
London
We would like to thank everyone for the support, messages, calls, flowers and cards during this time.

We would also like to express our gratitude to the carers who came to our home, and the visiting St Christopher's hospice nurses who looked after Sarah with such dedication. There is an option to make a donation to the hospice via this page if you would like.

 

Sarah's Life Story

Born
26 February 1938
Passed
21 January 2026
Lived In
London
Mum, or Sarah Jane Hicks, Sarah, and ‘Gma’ as most now know her, was born in 1938 at North Harton Farm in Lustleigh Devon to Joan Hicks (née Mullaly) and Edwin Hicks. She was the first of four children, born close together in sequence and emotional bond: Tony was next, then Jean and Simon. They all grew up at Apple Trees farm in Cambridge. Their father Edwin died of cancer in 1942, leaving Joan (or ‘Ma’ as she became known) to support a family of four children.  Mum met Roddy Duchesne while she was at Roehampton teacher training college. They met at the local evangelical Christian association, which was her only foray into organised religion and not because she really believed. She and her best friend Vicky knew this was where the cutest guys hung out. If there was a Christian denomination to which mum had the closest affinity, it would be to Quakerism because of their basic belief in the value of community and good works, two philosophical foundations for the way mum lived. Mum stopped teaching to have her three children of her own; Martin in 1964, Katharine in 1967 and Joanna in 1969 and moved to 84 Oakfield Road, Birmingham. She returned to work part time then full time, becoming deputy head at The Arden, then head teacher at Deykin Avenue school in Birmingham. Mum and Roddy divorced in the early 70s, and she met Brian Watkins while taking a drama course at Birmingham Polytechnic. This relationship was significant both personally and professionally.  Mum loved her work as a teacher, where the school, and especially “her children”, were her community. Her work as head teacher in forging the teachers and staff into a single team, where everyone worked for each other, was recognised in the local paper. In an interview for that article, Mum was quoted as saying, “all staff feel much more valued, part of the organisation. They also realise that what they say about their own development actually affects other people.They all develop expertise which they can share for the benefit of the children”. Our grandmother, Ma, became increasingly frail and moved in to live with the family for five years until her death in 1985. From this point, Mum experienced a new lease of life and moved to Woodville Road in Birmingham. Mum met Les, a fellow teacher and they enjoyed a long companionship involving travel, restaurants and visiting national trust properties. She retired from teaching in 1998, and became a devoted grandmother to Zach, Maddy, Bella, Alina, and Jan, moving to London in 2012 to be closer to family. Mum loved to travel. We all have many memories of holidays with her laughing in Europe and Canada. She loved theatre, cinema, live music, film and got inexplicable enjoyment (to Martin anyway) from TV shows, such as East Enders and Downton Abbey. She loved food, especially cream, butter and dry white wine. Her first loves, though, were her children, grandchildren and her friends, from school, first homes, school rotas, Birmingham, and then London: relationships that lasted a lifetime.

Funeral Details

West Norwood Cemetery and Crematorium, Norwood Road West Norwood London SE27 9JU

3rd February 2026

2 pm – 2.45 pm

Officiant: Viv Thomas

Please arrive by 1.45 pm. We will be dressing in smart clothes but there is no official dress code for the funeral. Some may wear vibrant colours, others may prefer black. Please wear what you feel is right for you on this occasion.
Arriving by car: vehicles can enter the cemetery via the main entrance; the crematorium is sign-posted and located towards the top of the hill. Parking is free. Arriving by public transport: West Norwood train station is a minute away from the cemetery entrance. Buses from Brixton: 2, 196, 322, 432, 468. Buses from Crystal Palace: 322, 432.
There will be a live webcast of the funeral, which can be viewed for up to 28 days afterwards. The family will send out login details the day before the event. Please do let us know if you would like to attend online and we are not aware.

Wake

From 3 pm onwards, we will gather at 61 Harold Road, SE19 3SP (Joanna's home and where Sarah lived for the last two years). There will be plenty of refreshments, love, hugs and a space for Sarah to be remembered.

Memories

Condolences & Memories

(9)
Leda30 Jan 2026

What a lovely, fine woman Sarah, gma was! I loved seeing her and have sweet memories at Harold Road of a shared love of hair dye, earrings and having a cackle. She loved you all deeply and lived with courage not complaint! I know you will miss her- your love will never die xxx Love to you all Leda, Guy, Mikki and Arlo xxxx

Jane Royce31 Jan 2026

Dear Joanna and family, my deepest condolences at the loss of your wonderful mum Sarah. She was a good friend to our family when the girls were little; I loved our many chats at Westow Park playground after school and over cups of tea at yours .. MANY happy memories. My own mum loved seeing Sarah too. She was wise, kind and very funny. I’m sure she’ll be very much missed by her legions of friends, as well as her lovely family. So sorry x x x

Daniel Miller31 Jan 2026

I remember some lovely chats with Sarah, always had something nice to say had a great sense of humour. My sincere condolences. I am sure she will be much missed and forever remembered. Daniel

Nina Emett31 Jan 2026

Sarah had a beautiful smile, a cheeky sense of humour and a fierce intelligence. When Joanna & I got our dear mothers together back in the day, they bonded instantly and giggled heartily, just like their daughters had! I loved visiting Sarah, she was always warm and welcoming. She was a wonderful mother and Gma and in her later years, she was so well looked after by her dear family. I know how much she was loved and how much she will be missed.

JOjO1 Feb 2026

Dearest Joanna and family, So sorry for your loss. I hold you tightly, in my heart and in my thoughts at this difficult time. Sending so much love, and courage.. JOjO

Anita Yuill2 Feb 2026

I will sadly miss you,I will miss our chats and smiley face RIP❤️xxx

Sandra Michael3 Feb 2026

Dear Joanna and Family, We were honoured to care for Sarah for more than two years. She will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by all of us at Caremark Croydon.

Lisa harper3 Feb 2026

I meet sarah as her carer when she lived on her flat she was a bubbly lady so funny she always spoke about how much she loved her family i will miss her lots love lisa xxx

Ghulam12 Jun 2026

I went to Deykin Avenue from the early to mid 1990s (final year was 1995-1996). I have fond memories of morning assemblies being accompanied by “Spring” (Vivaldi). She was a lovely head teacher. When I get top grades in my current studies, I will dedicate them to her (among other teachers and senior staff I had the privilege to learn under). Gone but always in my heart.

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Funeral Details

Location
West Norwood Cemetery and Crematorium, Norwood Road West Norwood London SE27 9JU
Date
3rd February 2026
Time
2 pm – 2.45 pm
Officiant
Viv Thomas

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