Nan's funeral was as good as you could possibly hope for a funeral to be. Brilliant blue skies, warm sun, and lots of people to share the process of saying goodbye. The staff were exceptional and the gentleman who conducted the service, read it like he knew nan and cared for her. I had written a poem, and had a week to instill the vision in my psyce of me calmly and strongly reading it for her - Tony came up with me for backup in case I broke down. We practiced at my brothers house that morning and I felt the unity then that was to help us all through the readings. When our time came, my brother Peter, his wife Debbie, myself and Tony got up. We were strong and supported each other so we were able to voice our final public words to our beautiful Nan. Pete and Debbie both wrote seperately about their very touching, and sometimes funny memories in a raw and honest way that had everyone riveted. When we had finished, people applauded which we weren't expecting at a funeral, but that gesture touched us all. After we spoke, there was a DVD shown of photographs, the four of us formed a chain of hands, our collective strengths ebbed away and we all cried as the visions of her flashed before us. I wasn't expecting them to take the coffin out, I thought they only did this for burials - that floored me and only that Tony caught me, I almost collapsed. We gathered again until we composed ourselves and walked out into the sunshine. My dear friend Teddy Bear was there who had ridden across town to support me, he knew my nan too and she thought the world of him. Slowly we all smiled as we started "remember when she did......" which soon had us laughing.
She suffers no more and no longer has to be brave and endure the attrocities of her illness, for this I am extreemly happy.
She is a beautiful lady who, along with Campa taught us many wonderfull things, they will both live on in the hearts of everyone they touched and we feel very lucky and blessed to have had them both in our lives.
Here is the poem I wrote and read for nan.
You gave so much, so sweet and kind
such precious memories you leave behind
if we had faults, she couldn't see
we were loved unconditionally
whenever I had a hospital stay
she'd come in with mum day after day
she cooked peanut biscuits and scones like no other
for "nanny-fied" tato's - we'd fight one another
her pasties each time were perfection achieved
her queen pudding more scrumptious than you can believe
she'd take us on train trips, we'd dress up all pretty
and head off to have lunch at Coles in the city
Nan and campa, mum and dad,
gave us the best xmas kid's coulda had
there were stockings stuffed full, and personalised sacks
xmas eve dinner, then you'd both make tracks
we'd burst with excitement, we were off to bed - then
when we were asleep, you'd come back again
when we'd awake, santa had been
and left us more toys, than we'd ever seen
so many memories, some only small
that we only now and then recall
precious, now sacred and in our mind
a better nan we'd never find
Our campa now gone, and to journey through life's ride
Alby was there for you, he was always by your side
Alby, great friends with campa, a better man we couldn't find
to be with you and share your lives as your later years unwind
the spirit of these great men, you'd had right by your side
for years were your companions, you went with them when they died
Nan today we say goodbye, to our mother, nan and friend
you were such an inspiration, it's hard to know this is the end
through many of life's hard knocks, you stoically marched through
never on the surface did your emotions get to you
Post-op double mastectomy, you asked the surgeon without care
i hope you didn't throw them away, they were a matching pair
you continued on berating him, "you gave me ecstacy - I know!"
i read it in the papers, you're such a so and so
the surgeon left quite flustered, to the chart room he did roam
adding - patient doing brilliantly, it's time that she went home
you wore the scars of old age, though your mind was never shoddy
you bore what life threw at you, as it buffeted your body
you rose above each challenge, each time we were surprised
to see how high the human spirit, in one woman could arise
you are an inspiration, in heart in soul in mind
i hope that in my lifetime, your courage i can find
i hope you now are at peace, with your two boys waffling on
kettle whistling in the background, and them munching on a scone
Nan I am so grateful, to have had you for so long
you lived your life with love and guts, and that is never wrong
you stood your ground, would not give in, until your time was through
I just hope that I can do the same, rest in peace, I love you.
Thank you to everyone who rang, txtd, sent or made cards, prayed for my nan,
brought gifts, and who made me feel very supported and loved throughout the last few months - I am a very wealthy girl because I have such beautiful caring people in my world. Kisses and hugs to you, you really do make a difference - I love you xxoo
I have some rememberence poppy seeds which were distributed at the service to be planted in nans honor. If you would like some, let me know and I'll mail them to you.
That's it for now - Hope everything is happy and well in your world - Kaz. :)
