I have always said that when my time comes, that I don't want people to morn me....I want people to rejoice in the life that I led. Hence is way I really appreciate and enjoy the more modern day services, commonly known as a "Celebration of Life". I think the Irish had the right idea of a "wake". Yes of course there is morning and sorrow...but I love and enjoy how they toast and cheer their dearly departed. Their songs or ballads can be quite cheerful and uplifting.
I know when my mother passed she "DID NOT" want a traditional funeral. She wanted a good ol Irish wake, with songs of remembrance and it was imperative to her that every one who attended had a toast of Irish whiskey. Ah mom.
My mother in law passed away just over a month ago. She too was of the same mind set as my mom. Don't morn for me she would say, celebrate, have fun...I can just hear my mother in law saying that now. So that is what I hope we will do.
My father in law has decided to do a "Celebration of Life". There will be a few prayers and an opportunity for those who would like to share something about her to do so. My brother in law is organizing a power point that will run continuously sharing pictures of my mother in law and with the background music coming from "her" play list on her iPod. That will be interesting as I know she loved country music and Patsy Cline. So I am looking forward to that.
Of course it will be a difficult time regardless, but I truly want to celebrate the life she lead, the joy she brought to so many, the family she created and the spirit and vitality that she had almost right up to the end. She was a fighter...she wasn't going to let the "beast" as she called it get a hold of her. In the end it did, but not without a fight from her.
She will and is sorely missed by her husband of 57 years, her children, grandchildren and great grandchild and all those whose lives she has touched. In her remembrance I smile and I thank her for what she brought to this world.
Rest in peace Marilynn.
Marilynn April 1934 - January 2011
5 comments:
I'm sorry for your family's loss RN. Your MIL's funeral (wake) sounds like it will be wonderful celebration of her life. I really like the idea of a powerpoint of photographs and her favourite music being played. I hope it all goes just how she would have wanted it. x
Coincidence? Last Tuesday nite, at our meeting of the Women's Group (WELCA) at our church, somehow after our short Bible study, the conversation launched over to discussing the recent funeral for the sister of one of our members. The lady who had passed was 84 years old and one I have always liked very much and admired her (and her sister as well) greatly. We spoke of her funeral and how it was truly not an event of lots and lots of mourning but rather, was a celebration of her life. That she would have loved the way the funeral and dinner after had gone -like a party, in her honor. And we got to talking about that as well as that sometimes we get things all backwards at funerals too in that we should be celebrating this time as one of jubilation for the person who is now entered into a new life, one without pain, without sorrow, with rejoicing, day in and day out. Mourning is what we do and feel for ourselves because we will miss that person, celebration is what we should be doing for the person who is no longer with us. We also discussed how much easier life is for those who follow us -to our grave -if we take the time to plan our own funerals, our own celebration of life, with the music specified by US, with the passages from the Bible selected by US, with the remembrances the eulogist choses to mention being recommended to by US and that way then, those attending can feel that WE are still there, always with them, and we leave then with good memories, even to the very end. Which, in my mind, is the way it should be. I hate the thought of when I die that perhaps my kids will be unconsolable but I relish the thought that through words and music, warmth of other family and friends surrounding them, that they will see that this is just the beginning of the rest of my life.
Celebration of Life -just exactly what a funeral or wake should be!
And that doesn't mean it will be free of tears, but at the end of that day, they will be tears shed with love and laughter and thankfulness for all the person has given to us over our time on earth with him/her. Make a joyful noise, you know -so goes that passage and I firmly believe in that.
Funerals are hard for me too. When my time comes I want someone to take my ashes up to the cabin and place them on the bluff where I can watch the boats coming through the narrows for all time. - Margy
"A Place I Call Home" has been included in this weeks Sites To See. I hope you like the image I featured, and I hope this helps to attract many new visitors here.
http://asthecrackerheadcrumbles.blogspot.com/2011/03/sites-to-see_18.html
Rest in peace Marilynn...i am sorry for your loss...
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