Gloria Hunniford sadly lost husband Stephen Way last year after 30 years of marriage. Here, she opens up on the prospect of dating after such a loss – and moving on for the sake of her grandkids
Gloria Hunniford lost her husband of 26 years last summer, 20 years after losing her beloved daughter Caron Keating, who passed away from breast cancer in 2004 at the age of just 41. Reminiscing about the many happy times she shared with them both, the 85-year-old TV host reflects on how life goes on while you’re coping with grief, her strong faith and how she focuses on feeling grateful for the wonderful memories they created.
Gloria cared for husband Stephen Way, who she married in 1998, during his “heroic fight” against illness, but he tragically passed away last August. Talking about the months since his loss, she says, “You have to do a head job every so often, it’s painful. You have to carve out a new type of life, don’t you? It’s quite hard really, at the beginning, and then slowly, slowly you sort of get into a different rhythm and a different situation.
READ MORE: M&S shoppers ‘can’t breathe’ as new Marmite creation lands on shelves
“Stephen and I had 30 years together. Some people never get 30 years of happiness, but I did, so as much as he is a huge loss, I am very grateful that I had that time with him. I was very lucky and have been very lucky in my life.”
Gloria also feels blessed to still live in the home they shared. “I’ve lived in that house for 40 years, so I love coming home. We were talking on Loose Women about happy places and I was saying I have a few happy places but I’m lucky in that I’m very happy going home to my own house. We have a lovely time there, so it’s full of memories.”
Asked if she feels Stephen’s presence around the house, she pauses before answering. “I believe I will see Caron again and I believe I will see Stevie again,” she says. “It’s not that I go to church every Sunday, but I have a very strong faith, and in life, you either believe there is somewhere you go after you die, or there isn’t. I choose to think there is.”
The Rip Off Britain presenter says thinking of her family and friends who need her boosts her resilience when it comes to her situation. “When Stephen was ill and he passed, you sort of think, ‘Well, what is the alternative?’ We have to get on with life for the family, the children, your grandchildren, your friends who need you.”
As an octogenarian, Gloria is still sprightly and she puts her energy down to her strong work ethic, admitting that she ignores her children’s well-meaning advice to slow down and put her feet up at her holiday home in France.
“I like doing it all and I don’t stop. And if you work hard, you play hard. I think it’s down to my work ethic,” she says. “The work ethic is really important. We were taught in Northern Ireland to work and therefore I’ve always worked all my life, and I’ve always wanted to work.
“One of my sons says, ‘Mum, why don’t you go and stay in the family home in France? And I say, ‘I don’t want to!’ I wouldn’t change a thing because I worked my a**e off the whole time and I still work my a**e off. It will be 80 years next year in showbusiness because I started as a singer when I was still in the pram – well not quite, but almost. I love France and going on holidays, but I don’t want to stay there.”
When it comes to her health, Gloria knows how important it is to look after herself. “I’ve always been very conscious of my health and I’ve always been a great advocate of healthy alternatives and used that alongside anything I need,” she says. “But I’ve been lucky enough that I’ve never needed any serious stuff. I have a dodgy left knee – nothing worrying.”
The presenter also relishes her role as a grandmother and says she finds it “very healing” watching her grandchildren grow in both their personal and professional lives.
“My grandchildren are lovely, getting older by the second,” she says with a smile. “Charlie got married last year and I can’t believe I’ve got a grandchild who’s 30. It’s very, very healing seeing the generations carry on, and because I do things and go to places they quite like, socially I keep up with them as well, which is really good.”
When asked what Caron would have thought about her son getting married, Gloria says, “She would have loved him. He’s the loveliest boy. They are both lovely boys. Charlie is the eldest and Gabriel is a few years younger. They’re doing well in their jobs and that’s exciting. Caron would have loved her daughter-in-law. I love her like my own grandchild. She’s a lovely girl.”
There may be great-grandchildren to look forward to one day, but for now, Gloria remains tight-lipped on the subject. “I don’t know yet,” she says coyly. “What do you say?”
She is still close to her son-in-law Russ, Caron’s husband. “I was speaking to him the other day. We have a close bond. Russ is a lovely man. Caron was lucky to have Russ, just as I have been to have had Stephen for 30 years.”
Having experienced such love in her life, would Gloria look for romance again one day? “It’s not even in my head. It’s too raw yet. It’s only been just over a year,” she says. “But I like having male friends who I’ve had for decades – I like talking to them.” One of them is her dear friend Sir Cliff Richard. “He’s a very lovely friend, a good friend and very loyal,” she says fondly. “I’ve known him 55 years.”
Gloria Hunniford spoke to us at the Best Heroes Awards.
Source: Mirror
Leave a Reply