Mum's funeral
Having just posted my first comment in months, here I am again!! Thought I had told the tale of Mum's funeral, but looking over my posts it seems not? Forgive me if I have already posted on this, and just can't see it. I wanted to share with you some of the details of the day.
We wanted the funeral to be a celebration of Mum's life, as she was such a lively, amusing, witty lady before dementia struck. I asked the vicar if he would mind taking a minimal role in the service, as we brought Mum back up to the Midlands to be buried with my lovely Dad, and he didn't actually know Mum. He was very happy to take a back seat, and just introduce the various elements. My sister's husband is a musical director/conductor, so I asked him to take care of that side of the service. He absolutely came up trumps. He remembered Mum loving a piano piece he played for her once, (First Arabesque, Debussy), so that was playing as we brought Mum into church. My brother had written a wonderful eulogy, recalling her early years being brought up in a house with very little money, and losing her dad when she was just 11 years old. She passed for Grammar School but her mum couldn't afford for her to go. Despite these difficult times, she always talked about what a happy childhood she had. My youngest 27 year old son did the bible reading, and my eldest son who is 33 gave a eulogy from the grandchildren's perspective. He had people moved to tears, and then weeping with laughter at some of his memories. At the end of his reading, he made a very pertinent point.
He said "In an age where the superficial trappings of life are so valued, she reminds us of the absurdity of such a measure of success. Although she may not have realised it, she taught us all so much. She was a wonderful wife, mother and grandmother - and that is her legacy".......
And so to the final song. Because Mum and Dad loved dancing so much, we wanted to chose one of the old dance songs that we could remember them dancing to. For one day only, my brother-in-law formed a small band Using his contacts from the music and theatre world he included a close friend who Mum had met and loved, who played the trumpet. My brother-in-law played keyboard, and my sister's 14 year old son played his snare drums. Another friend who has sung in many West End musicals and also fronts a well known rock band sang vocals. And my dear Mum left the church to the sounds of 'Dancing cheek to cheek'!
It was a fitting tribute to a lady who was so loved, and we all miss her dearly.
Having just posted my first comment in months, here I am again!! Thought I had told the tale of Mum's funeral, but looking over my posts it seems not? Forgive me if I have already posted on this, and just can't see it. I wanted to share with you some of the details of the day.
We wanted the funeral to be a celebration of Mum's life, as she was such a lively, amusing, witty lady before dementia struck. I asked the vicar if he would mind taking a minimal role in the service, as we brought Mum back up to the Midlands to be buried with my lovely Dad, and he didn't actually know Mum. He was very happy to take a back seat, and just introduce the various elements. My sister's husband is a musical director/conductor, so I asked him to take care of that side of the service. He absolutely came up trumps. He remembered Mum loving a piano piece he played for her once, (First Arabesque, Debussy), so that was playing as we brought Mum into church. My brother had written a wonderful eulogy, recalling her early years being brought up in a house with very little money, and losing her dad when she was just 11 years old. She passed for Grammar School but her mum couldn't afford for her to go. Despite these difficult times, she always talked about what a happy childhood she had. My youngest 27 year old son did the bible reading, and my eldest son who is 33 gave a eulogy from the grandchildren's perspective. He had people moved to tears, and then weeping with laughter at some of his memories. At the end of his reading, he made a very pertinent point.
He said "In an age where the superficial trappings of life are so valued, she reminds us of the absurdity of such a measure of success. Although she may not have realised it, she taught us all so much. She was a wonderful wife, mother and grandmother - and that is her legacy".......
And so to the final song. Because Mum and Dad loved dancing so much, we wanted to chose one of the old dance songs that we could remember them dancing to. For one day only, my brother-in-law formed a small band Using his contacts from the music and theatre world he included a close friend who Mum had met and loved, who played the trumpet. My brother-in-law played keyboard, and my sister's 14 year old son played his snare drums. Another friend who has sung in many West End musicals and also fronts a well known rock band sang vocals. And my dear Mum left the church to the sounds of 'Dancing cheek to cheek'!
It was a fitting tribute to a lady who was so loved, and we all miss her dearly.