Jeanette Grice of Remuera was tragically killed when she was hit by a car on Shore Rd Remuera on December 4. Photo / Supplied
Jeanette Grice of Remuera was tragically killed when she was hit by a car on Shore Rd Remuera on December 4. Photo / Supplied
The family of a woman knocked down outside an Auckland garden centre have spoken of a "nightmare" three weeks since her death, and the pain of losing her.
Jeanette Grice was hit by a car and killed as she walked with her husband, Roger, along the footpath outside Palmers GardenCentre in Remuera this month.
Grice was flung into a bush by the car and died at the scene. Her husband was knocked out for about 10 minutes and suffered cuts and bruising.
Roger and the couple's children, Sam, 28, Kate, 30, and Emily, 32, today spoke about what happened. The couple regularly went for Sunday morning walks, Roger said, and on December 4 decided to walk around the Hobson Bay walkway.
"Jeanette and I were walking past the garden centre, just chatting, and the car hit us from behind," he said.
"So it actually hit me and knocked me out of the way, but it also knocked me out so I can't remember anything at that point and then it obviously hit Jeanette a lot harder and she was killed."
He didn't see the car coming and doubted his wife did either, he said.
"The last thing I remember is the impact. Because it came from behind we didn't even get a chance to realise what was going on. I can't remember too much because I was knocked out and the 10 minutes afterwards is just a complete blur.
"So it was only Jeanette and I that were involved in the impact. The third person was the woman in the car and she was obviously in some sort of state."
His wife's death had been painful for the entire family and all of her friends, but the outpouring of love had brought them together and given them strength, he said.
He described the past three weeks as a "nightmare" but also wanted to thank those who tried to help his wife on the day.
Flowers now lay at the spot where Remuera woman Jeanette Grice was tragically killed earlier this month. Photo / Grice family
"We would also like to thank all our friends and family, who rushed to our aid, and later in the week made Jeanette's funeral a beautiful celebration of her life," Roger said.
"About 500 people attended the funeral and many more logged in to the live-stream, from all parts of the world. We were overwhelmed by the number of people who treasured Jeanette as a friend."
Sam Grice said the family was still in shock about how his mum was taken from them.
"We're all still in shock, really. Heartbroken, we've got all the emotions. We're very lucky to have our father with us still."
With Christmas just days away, Roger Grice said they were still going ahead with a big Christmas at their family home, with other family members heading up from the South Island and greater Auckland area.
"She would be very disappointed for us to be grieving so much that we can't operate, so even though it won't seem quite right, we are going to do that."
As for the area where she died, family had continued to walk it as a way to remember her.
"We've done it a couple of times and we do it almost as a remembrance now, it's a beautiful part of Auckland and Jeanette loved to walk, so we have done it a few times."
The family also urged the driver of the car to come forward, claiming she had refused to co-operate with police. Their ability to move on and get closure had been hampered by this, they said.
"We are not fully aware of the facts as the person responsible has chosen not to speak to the police. We are encouraging the driver to make a statement to the police and recount the events of the day while the memories are still fresh," Roger said.
Emergency services attended the crash on Shore Rd in Remuera where Jeanette Grice was killed earlier this month. Photo / SNPA
"Making a statement to the police will give the family some comfort and closure, leading into Christmas, as the family tries to piece together what happened on the day."
Sam Grice said they weren't sure why the driver wasn't co-operating, but it did add to the frustration of the situation.
Police declined to confirm to the Herald whether the woman had refused to speak or co-operate with their investigation.
"All we can say at this stage is the matter is still being investigated," police said.
Corso De' Fiori general manager Jeremy Willoughby earlier told the Herald her colleagues were in shock at the loss of their "loving, vibrant, beautiful" workmate and friend.
"It's just tragic.
"You can handle it when someone's got cancer, you know at some point they're going to go, but this was such a shock."
