Ronnie

So when I was really young and spent most of my days outside in the garden, there was a guy that used to come to our house to do gardening. His name was Ronnie. He was a friend of a friend of my Mum's I think, but either way, he was always at our house. As I said, he was a gardener by trade, but most of the time he just came to our house and just talked and drank tea etc. He didn't have any relatives left, no parents as he was old, no brothers, no sisters, nothing, so was a very lonely man. My Mum, much like me, is a worrier, so always made him welcome here.
He was really good friend to me growing up, which is important at that age. He was someone to rely on, someone to talk to, always letting me help him garden, or build something. My Mum said earlier on this evening, "he thought the world of you".
Over the years our family lost contact with him, I don't know why, I think he had a falling out with my Mum over something stupid and they never made it up, but I can't be sure.
Three Years ago my Mum got a call on her mobile from Ronnie saying he was dying. He had no-one to call except my Mum, he didn't know what to do. We rent to his flat where he lived alone in South Croydon, to find him barely able to breathe and in a total state of confusion. I can't be 100% sure he recognised me/knew who I was, but I'm pretty sure he did. It was terrible to see him like that, I can't believe it got to such a stage without anyone helping. He was taken into care shortly after.
He passed away today, aged 80.
This news has really upset me, I hope he didn't have a bad time in care, and I hope the last 3 years he spent were happier than when he lived alone.
The funeral will probably be next week, i'll go and pay my respects to someone who made me very happy in my early years.

To Ronnie, Rest In Peace.