A catholic funeral

My last few days have been occupied with the planning and organising of a catholic requiem mass for my grandpa, to be held tomorrow. It hasn't been easy - other than my nana my family is not decidedly catholic, with the exception of myself, my mother and my sister everyone else is rather agnostic.

My grandpa was a devout catholic for his entire life. When he left school he became a lay brother, serving the church for almost seven years before bowing out just before his final vows. It's lucky he did, or I wouldn't be here! In his later life he still attended mass, and when he was unable to do this he received communion in the rest home he lived in. His last communion was two days before he passed, which I am so pleased about.

This evening we prayed a rosary, which is traditional for the evening before a funeral mass. My nana lead us and we remembered the joyful mysteries, as my grandpa was always a very joyful man. The rosary beads pictured here are his rosary beads. I used them tonight and he will be buried with them, entwined around his hand.