SAYING OUR GOODBYES

Today was the day we said Goodbye to our Mum, who was also a Nan, a Great Nan and a good friend to many.  We were amazed when we got there to find that the Crematorium was full to capacity with many standing at the back.  Lots of us wore purple or mauve, Mum’s favourite colour - and mine too!

It was a beautiful service with touches of humour, time for reflection, Mum’s favourite song, “Make Me a Channel of your Peace”, two songs by her favourite singer, Matt Monro and finishing with “My Way” sung by another favourite, Frank Sinatra.  We also listened to the 23rd Psalm and then I read the poem below.  As I said before I read it, Mum would have been delighted that the Queen chose this poem to be read at her own Mother’s funeral service - and as Mum was very fond of the Royal Family, I think it would have pleased her.

Margaret Price, who led the service, also mentioned Nicky, my brother Paul’s daughter who lives in America and Jules, our son, who lives in Vietnam, and who at 5.30 p.m. his time, was going to stand for a minute to think about us as we would just about be starting the service here in the UK.  I heard from Nicky just after the service that although it was very early in the morning for her, she had followed the Order of Service and had even Googled the songs so that she could listen to them and feel part of the service, although she was so far away.

Mum was definitely a “character” and having lived for 95 years, although she had had a lot of hard times in her life, she also had a lot of fun - as you can see from the extra photograph - taken when she was almost 90 sitting on a Harley Davidson!

You can shed tears that she is gone
     Or you can smile because she has lived
You can close your eyes and pray that she will come back
     Or you can open your eyes and see all that she has left
Your heart can be empty because you can’t see her
     Or you can be full of the love that you shared
You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday
     Or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday
You can remember her and only that she is gone
     Or you can cherish her memory and let it live on
You can cry and close your mind, 
     be empty and turn your back
Or you can do what she would want: 
          smile, open your eyes, love and go on.
David Harkins