Touching tributes to Mrs Tourism, iconic Decima Jones
A passionate Dundonian, Decima loved her town and her people.
Decima Jones, who for over 22 years ran the Tourism Office with such dignity and efficiency it made it the best run information office in the Province, passed away in the early hours of this morning at her Ryley Street home.
Decima, 80, bravely fought cancer – a battle which she never complained about and right until the end always showed more concern for her husband, Peter, daughter Sherrill (who moved back to Dundee in March) son-in-law Dave Ponton rather than herself.
Fittingly she was honored by the Rotary Club who presented her with an accolade for community service.
Married to Peter for 58 years, Decima was one of Dundee’s great ladies. A passionate Dundonian, Decima loved her town and her people. A cedar has indeed fallen. The family has asked that in lieu of flowers, well-wishers rather make a donation to the Cancer Association.
Son, Gary is in Australia and youngest daughter Jenny-Leigh in England.
Johann Hamman, tour guide and Courier freelancer, has paid tribute to Decima as only he can:
Dear Decima,
I have no strong words to accompany you. They keep getting stuck at that lump in my throat this morning. I had to say farewell to you this day, and I must say I did not quite know how to do it. You were the first person who received and welcomed Michele, Natasha and I to Dundee all those years ago.
I remember it well. You made a mountain of information available to me over the years, and you were never unwilling to help. Your style was inimitable and your office was always a reservoir of serenity, and it was no wonder Terry and I came there so often.
Your endless cups of coffee will be missed, and your kind advice even more. You were like a second mother to me in many respects, and guided this obstinate Boertjie well through all the local intrigue and juicy little secrets that had to be negotiated.
Go well, old girl. You will sorely missed – more than you will ever know. I had a quiet little cry of my own under the apple tree here. Don’t worry about Peter. There are lots of good people here that will keep an eye on him. Your indomitable spirit will require us to send you on your way with a shot of good whisky, and I am going to do that right now.
“Goeie pad, ou girl. Ons sal wel eendag weer praat.”
Johann and Michele
