Legacy
Wednesday was a typical English November day, still and dry with a slight mist in the air. It was a good day for a funeral if there can ever be such a thing.
The service had been planned carefully for a double funeral. Our neighbours had died within weeks of each other, after more than sixty years of marriage, and it was their only child’s last gift to them to organise a memorable celebration of their lives.
Lee did them proud, but their lasting legacy is him. He is one of the nicest people I have ever known, unfailingly polite and considerate, with a natural charm and ease of manner and a keen sense of humour, characteristics his three sons have inherited. He and his wife were proud to see their boys carry their grandmother’s casket. She had said that she would be pleased to be going down the aisle again with her husband, united in life and love, united in death.
They were good people, and will be much missed by their loving family and many friends.
RIP Gill and Tony.
That was an atypical funeral on a typical November day.
ReplyDeleteIt was hard for their son, but he was so appreciative of those many who attended.
DeleteThat's a beautiful legacy.
ReplyDeleteHe's a lovely man, one of my son's best and most loyal friends.
DeleteMy mother's parents died with a couple of years of each other, but within weeks seems to be a case of 'I can't live without you'. Sad.
ReplyDeleteHe succumbed to Covid very suddenly and she had cancer and was in hospice care.
DeleteMy paternal grandparents also died within weeks of each other after 60 years of marriage. I'm glad your friends were given a fitting funeral.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteIt must be sad for Lee to lose both parents at the same time but perhaps a comfort to know that one was not left alone to live with bereavement.
ReplyDeleteHe said it was a weight off his mother's shoulders, as she had been worrying about how his father would cope when she died. Sad, but right, somehow.
DeleteSounds delightful for them to be together, harder for the family as they lost two important people in their lives.
ReplyDeleteThey're a strong family and will support each other.
DeleteA beautiful eulogy you have written here
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteIt is so sad that we all have to go eventually, and life moves on. I hope your new neighbours are as good as these were.
ReplyDeleteWe knew them because our sons were good friends, and still are.
DeleteThe mark of a good life. To be remembered so fondly and loved.
ReplyDeletewww.rsrue.blogspot.com
This is how we achieve immortality.
DeleteLovely tribute. I especially liked the wife's words about going down the aisle again with her husband. May their memories be a blessing
ReplyDeleteTheir memories surely will be a blessing.
DeleteIn these times when we seem to be encouraged from all sides not to have a funeral it's good to hear about one that went well and testified to lives well lived and loved.
ReplyDeleteAlison in Wales x
It certainly made me reconsider my views on funerals. I think they probably are necessary for completion.
DeleteThis is a sweet post. Thank you. I needed sweetness today.
ReplyDeleteThank you. I'm reminded of the words of Mother Julian of Norwich: "All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well"
DeleteWhat a sad but lovely story.
ReplyDeleteIt was lovely to hear from their friends - there was laughter as well as tears.
DeleteSo touching. This couple reminds me so much of the couple who were our next door neighbors. Wonderful people and my son became a friend of their youngest son. And the name, Lee - that's the name of one of my late neighbors' daughters. I think they would have wanted to go down the aisle together. They both had dementia when they died. Such a horrible disorder.
ReplyDeleteIt is horrible, a thief of a disease.
ReplyDeleteA sweet and very touching post Janice. They must have been very proud of their son and his family, and they left a wonderful legacy in them. May they rest in peace.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Denise.
DeleteA romantic funeral, we prefer an incineration as what is left from family and friends is too far away. But the ceremony was also sweet.
ReplyDeleteIt was strange to have a Catholic ceremony in a crematorium, but at least there was no funeral mass.
DeleteHow beautiful yet sad at the same time! xxx
ReplyDeleteIt was and it remains with me, as though they haven't quite left yet. Strange.
DeleteA wonderful tribute.
ReplyDeleteRIP Gill and Tony.
All the best Jan
Thank you, Jan.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like a fitting send off for lives well lived!
ReplyDeleteIt was and remains with me still, several days later.
ReplyDelete