Harry & I have been to one of my close friends husbands funeral today.
I think it was one of the nicest funerals I have ever been to, that's if you can say a funeral is nice!
A big Irish funeral with a wonderful choir, a celebrant who knew the deaceased well, lovely hymns & a family who all took it in turn to do just a bit each.
The letter from the eldest son was just the most beautiful put together tribute I have ever heard.
The Canon conducting the funeral hitched a lift with us to the crematorium & was a real character taking us on a mystery tour around the hills of Blackburn & then back to the church hall where the eats were laid out.
In his purple robes too!
The Coop had a funeral stand at the Westmorland show so I thought this was a fitting photo.
A proper farmers landrover hearse with a wool covered coffin!
Three good things:
1. A down to earth Canon with no airs & graces.....a chap you could talk to!
2. Angelic singing.
3. Family support.
What a wonderful story , like the shot as well. I think you are allowed to call a funeral nice, if it is the way you describe. I have a childrens book called "The best funerals in the world" A story about a group of children trying to make lovely and good funerals for all the insects and little animals they found dead in the grass. It was a great book to help picking up the topic with smaller children. My girls loved it
@khirsch that sounds a perfect book & a way to discuss with young ones the inevitable cycle of life & death. I remember myself having littke funerals of our pets & of course farm children learn from birth almost about the rhythm of life.
It must have been a warm and lovely affair with all the family taking part in remembering and sharing .And give the Canon a lift to the crem. and back to the Church hall sounds a proper jolly time !!
When we were in Dublin, there was a big funeral at the Big House where we were staying and I was just amazed at all that went on - I wanted to join in! Towards the end there was a young boy playing some instrument and everyone was singing - including me! A great send-off as it seems to be here! I wonder if the Canon had a canon!
I wish I could remember the exact wording of the letter that Noel wrote about his father. Something about being the man I want to be. How he had been all things & had been the heart of the home & that he & his brother & sister had been shaped by such a good man & been taught how to build a family life of their own, I might ask Bernie for a copy. Truly moving! @maggiemae the Canon didn't seem to have a canon but he had a lot of happy chat! He is the one that leaves the Christmas tree up until Easter in the church house!
Sounds like a wonderful send-off - hopefully just what he wanted. Some of my best family gatherings have been at funerals with everyone joking about how the deceased would have loved to have been there ;)
I wish I could remember the exact wording of the letter that Noel wrote about his father. Something about being the man I want to be. How he had been all things & had been the heart of the home & that he & his brother & sister had been shaped by such a good man & been taught how to build a family life of their own, I might ask Bernie for a copy. Truly moving! @maggiemae the Canon didn't seem to have a canon but he had a lot of happy chat! He is the one that leaves the Christmas tree up until Easter in the church house!