1947 - 2006

My Tribute to a special friend - Liz Nazer

For those of whom have lost a loved one it's a tragedy within itself, whether it be family, or friends or a beloved Afghan, we all fall into the same category of feelings of grief and the aftermath can haunt us for years, especially when there was no time to say goodbye. Then one can only stand and catalogue our regrets. For me this has been a double tragedy, the shock of losing Liz that still lays heavy and then our beloved Afghan, Lainy who succumbed to her illness in such a short time after her. Afghans were Liz's life, her family, her children, and I was also a part of her life too.

I would like to take the opportunity to express my utmost gratitude in thanking the Afghan world who gracefully and gladly gave thought to Liz in helping making her life so much easier. There are so many it's difficult to quote each individual by name.

For most, if one sat down to think about our lives in general, one would discover just how much is taken for granted. From the simplest of tasks to the more complicated. Liz however could not take anything for granted and we all knew how remarkably she coped with the situation.

Liz was never one to sit and dwell over her disability and no one, including me realised just how ill she was. Liz was a lovely girl, a warm hearted girl, a genuine and generous girl, she did as much for me as I could for her and I shall miss her terribly. Our friendship made allowances for us to bicker in disagreement, knowing that whatever was said we could get away with it without one or the other being affected by anger.

In the beginning it seemed as if our lives were worlds apart, in fact our lives were not to far distant as it turned out. Our directions were uncanny and it only came to light while travelling along the motorway stuck behind a horsebox. I happened to mention that as a spirited young girl I liked nothing better than galloping over the meadows on my horse Jupiter, Liz in turn spoke of her adventures on her own mount, only the habit for me came to an end as I grew older, for Liz it came to an abrupt halt at the tender age of 22 after an accident that forced her to spend the rest of her life in a wheelchair.

As we revealed our lives history we discovered that the day I was strolling in the village where I grew up, the flashy red sports car that sped by driven by a young man I knew, and the pretty young girl sitting beside him with her long blond hair flowing in the wind, whom I didn't know then, was Liz, this was in the 60s.

A few decades later Liz joined the company of Kimberly Clark as a Graphic Designer and I as a machine operator, as the years passed we each found the passion in our lives, dogs, and we each chose the Afghan Hound. Then we each got involved in the world of showing this beautiful creature and that was when we finally met properly. The venue was Maidstone and our cages were placed side by side. This episode is how I like to remember Liz, sitting by the ringside with me with our beloved Afghans. Sadly our passion has come to an end for both of us but if I could have the last word it would be this....

Thank you for being my friend Liz, this is not goodbye, just farewell for now, so find a place for our cages when you book us into a dog show and remember to bring your running shoes.

God Bless you Liz until we meet again.

Irene xxx  (Gurney)

Messages from Affie Lovers Members showing what great love and respect dear Liz was held in

† Have just had the shocking news that Liz Nazer has passed away during the night. Liz was due to go into hospital for treatment tomorrow so this is an unbelievable shock. Lesley x (Busby)

† Oh Lesley , I'm so shocked to read your post, I was only talking to Hazel a few days ago and she had spoken to Liz and she seemed on form.. my deepest Sympathies to Liz's Family.  Jo (Smith)

† This was a total shock Lesley as I have been having long talks with Liz and thought she sounded more positive and hopeful about everything. Her main concern as always was about her beloved girls. I am so very very sorry to hear of her death. I admired Liz enormously for her strength and fortitude and the unending care she gave her girls, in not always easy circumstances.  God bless you and goodnight Liz, I was proud to call you my friend. Hazel x (Cranham)

† Oh Lesley, that is disturbing news. Poor Liz. She was so concerned for her dogs, and I am sure that she had made advance provision for them.  Liz was one gutsy lady, and I will certainly miss her.  Gerry (Darnley)

† So very shocked to hear this dreadful news, our sincerest condolences to all concerned. Avril (Lancashire)

† Oh Lesley that is just awful news. Please pass on my deepest condolences to her family at this terrible time. Nikki (Deen)

† Hi Lesley. What a terrible shock, we only posted a card the other day to wishes her all the best. Our though go to All Liz's family and friends. Susan & Clive (Winters)

† What terrible news. Sincere condolences to all concerned.  Julie & Dave (Noble)

† Hi Lesley, Such a shock to hear of Liz's passing, Pat & Dawn told me this morning, they had only been over there last night with Liz to reassure her about the dogs while she would have been in hospital, Liz was so strong of mind and so well organised that she had made provision for her dogs, in advance should anything go wrong. She was an inspiration in the way that she cared for and presented her dogs despite her disability, she will be sadly missed. Suzanne (Keree-Bartolo)

† Oh Lesley, I'm so very sorry to hear of Liz' passing. We didn't know her well but had great admiration for the way she managed her afghans in spite of her own problems. I can quite imagine how organised she was in regard to her girls. Rest in peace, Liz - our thoughts are with you. Di and Keith (Searle)

† Lesley I am so sorry to hear such terrible news. Please pass on my condolences to the family. Tricia (Churchill)

† Oh dear Lesley, That is dreadful news.. God Bless Liz. Ann (Bettridge)

† Such sad new Lesley, please pass on my condolences to her family. R.I.P. Liz. Roz (Livesey)

† So sorry to hear the sad news about Liz. Please pass on our sympathy to Liz's family. Christine and Ron (Morgan)

† This is terrible news, we are shocked and stunned. Liz was much admired by us because of the shining example of care and devotion to her dogs that she set us all. Please pass on our condolences to her close friends and family. Rest in peace Liz. Much love, Eve and Nicole (Mathews and Earnshaw)

† So sorry to hear the sad news, Liz was a very brave lady, and will be greatly missed by all that knew her, and been part of our lives for so long. Please forward condolences to her family. June (Mathews)

† Lesley please pass on my sincere condolences to Liz's family, it is so very sad , Liz was a lovely person who so obviously loved and cared for her dogs so much. Jayne x (Edwards)

† Hi Lesley, I didn't know Liz personally but please pass on my condolences to her family. Elizabeth (Beck)

† Another one, of the old Maidstone crowd has passed on, and it seems only like yesterday, that we were all there, with Liz, laughing and joking. It is true, she was a inspiration, to not only the keepers of the breed, but to people in general. She once told me, how she managed to crawl inside the shower with her dogs, in order to bath them, one cannot imagine, doing this, but do it she did. She recounted, how she used to lay her dogs on the bed, in order to groom them, and those who knew her, or saw her dogs, knew at a glance, that, she did it with perfection. Then at Christmas, she used to make her own cards, such was this person, who cared for everything she did. She was to our mind, the forgotten, Lady of dogs, who, accomplished so much, in order to do, the most simple things of life, with vast difficulty, which we, find so easy to do. One cannot imagine, going through, the traumas, and problems she faced, with her incapacity, but somehow she accomplished more in her world than we have ever or will ever know. Both Lesley and myself, send our Condolences.  Lesley and Dan James

† Dear Lesley, I am shocked and deeply saddened to hear of the death of Liz. She was a true inspiration to us all. She was one in a million. Rest in peace Liz, Love Mo x (Hudson)

† Hi Lesley, So sorry to hear of the passing of Liz. Condolences to her family and close friends. Having been from your area a long time ago knew Liz well and admired her courage and commitment to life in general and of course her dogs. I remember good times racing - Liz did that along with Marge Wood who we have also lost. Lets think of the happy memories. Love Lyn xx (Appleby)

† Please pass on our deepest sympathy to Liz's family......We were very saddened to hear the news. Jackie and Michael (Day)

† Oh Lesley. What sad news. Liz was a remarkable lady. Condolences to her family. Sue (Green)

† Hi Lesley, I was so upset to hear about brave Liz, despite all her health problems, it was far too soon for her to leave us. I will remember her as a kind, gentle person, who was so very proud of her dogs and who always had a friendly word for me. My sincere condolences to Liz's family and close friends. Love Cathy (Harding)

† So saddened to hear that Liz had died. She was so brave and a devoted lady to her Afghans. May she rest in Peace. God Bless Liz. David (Paton)

† Hi Lesley, I heard about Liz when we were in Belgium. The news came as a terrible shock. I had great admiration for Liz. Her dogs always looked in wonderful condition.
Poor Liz. My condolences to her family. PAT (Latimer)

† Hello Lesley, I have just had the sad news that Liz's beloved Lainy passed away this morning. As you know Lainy was Liz's special girl and they are reunited once more, never to be parted again. Love Hazel x

† Oh that is so sad Hazel and yet, so fitting. As you say, united again! Lesley x

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† Dear All. Today was a sad day as we went to Liz Nazer's funeral, it was a lovely service, with Eulogy from Jerry Darnley, talking about Liz and what a remarkable person she was, and how her dogs were the world to her. It was lovely to see so many old faces there, Gloria Carter, Suzanne Keree-Bartolo , Pat & Dawn Kirwin, Hazel Cranham, Irene Gurney as well as many others who are still showing our breed now Lesley & Alan Busby, Gerry Darnley, Teresa Grist, Terry Cronk, Mary Fisher, Sue Collyer & Annabel Collyer -Todd , and not forgetting Liz's handler Jane Goldsmith who was there helping with the litter when they was pups and carrying on when they was older. I just want to say Liz was a lovely person and we are grateful that we were lucky enough to know Liz and her kind words when we first came into the breed back in the 80's. Rest in peace Liz. regards, Melissa (Hills)

† Well said Melissa. It was a lovely service wasn't it?  It was such a shame that Sue Cronk was unable to get there, as her Mum was rushed into A & E this morning with a suspected heart attack. Sue has been so helpful to Liz's family, and to her neighbours, since Liz died, and she has Liz's 2 remaining bitches at home with her at the moment, one of which will remain with her. It was Sue's husband Terry that was with Theresea. Love Lesley (Busby)

† Very well said Lissie, I did think the day was a lovely tribute to Liz's very full and busy life and Gerry's words were perfect, Liz herself would have enjoyed the day with her friends with the laughter and the odd tears. I think her lovely goddaughter Rosie and her husband did Liz proud (and Lainy and her other past Afghans who were with her today) It was rather special to hear Liz's workmates also talk with great respect for her, they said she had her own little empire within the firm too which I can well believe.
 God Bless Liz, she was a very special lady. Hugs Hazel x

† I would like to add my agreement to all that has been said by Melissa, Lesley and Hazel. Special thanks also to Gerry for his lovely words and to Rosie and her family for enabling us to be there to say our farewells to Liz.  The day bought back many memories of past times, mostly happy, a few sad. What was also nice, is that we weren't all tiptoeing and being sugary, we told it as it was, warts and all. We all know what a feisty and determined lady Liz was but like or loathe, you could not deny the passion and devotion she showed to her beloved dogs. As the breeder of her first two Affies, I will always be grateful to her for the love and devotion she gave them during their life times.
 I would also like to say what a lovely day it turned out to be meeting up with people I hadn't seen for years, listening to anecdotes (thank you Gerry and Patrick, had almost forgotten some of those). Regards to all...Gloria (Carter)

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Updated 01-09-06

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