Mum's Funeral

 Mum's Funeral

Well, we made it! and it was well worth waiting nearly six months for. It was a wonderful send off for Mum; her funeral was moving and inspirational, and an uplifting experience; she was certainly an inspiration to us all, and to everyone she met during her long life. 

We might have been small in number in the Church, but we made up for it in raising our voices in prayer and praise, and giving Mum the send-off she - and we - wanted. 

We were very aware that, because of the restrictions imposed by the virus, many people who would have attended the Service, could not, but we knew their thoughts and prayers were with Mum, and us. 

I had sent the Order of Service to people all over the world, and they had come back to me to say they would be thinking of us at 12.00 noon UK time - even if, with the time difference involved, it meant being up at 5.00 a.m! and they would be with us and singing with us. 

Wendy was  in wonderful voice, singing Bind Us Together with Bob on the guitar, and she also gave the reading from 1 Corinthians, Chapter 1, verses 1-13. I spoke about Mum, and how I knew everyone who knew and loved her, wherever they were in the world, was thinking of her, and us, as we celebrated her life. Even if they could not be with us in Church, they were thinking of us. I also read the poem again, that I wrote for her 100th Birthday, and had its debut last October, in the Palm Court. Al came forward and talked about his Great-Grandma, and his fond memories of her; and then David, our dear friend who now lives in England, spoke so warmly about Mum, and the friendship she and his mother had enjoyed in Durban, all those years ago.  

Mike, the Vicar, gave the Eulogy - he included everyone and everything that Mum had done in her life, tracing it from her birth in Liverpool on Grandma's third wedding anniversary, to being with us at the end. He also remembered Uncle John in the prayers, so we felt the circle had been completed. 

After the Church service, Mum was laid to rest in Kirkdale cemetery, with her elder brother, Austin, her father, John Woods, and her Mum - my dear Grandma, Alice. We know she is with God, but for this Service everyone took such good, gentle care of her, treating her, and us, with sensitivity and respect.

At the graveside, I saw the two gentlemen who had prepared Mum's grave, and as we prepared to leave, one said to me, "Don't worry about your Mum; we'll make sure everything is done nicely, and we'll tuck her up safe and warm." For us, that was the most perfect and understanding thing to say.

We were then driven back in the limousine to the Funeral Offices in Broadgreen, where we had parked our car. Then we drove into Liverpool, and found parking in the centre, where we could walk through to Panoramic 34, a beautiful restaurant at the very top of the West Tower, with magnificent views over the whole of Liverpool; the weather was superb, and the visibility could not have been better; the Liver building was below us, with the ferries going to and fro across the Mersey, and Birkenhead and the Wirral lay on the other side of the river, with the Welsh hills in the distance. We had a champagne cream tea at Panoramic 34 - it seemed very appropriate to have an echo of the cream teas at The Ritz that Mum so enjoyed on so many happy occasions.

Before we left Liverpool on the Saturday, we went back to Flowerbug, and saw Jo and Tom, the florists who had been responsible for creating the posies and the floral spray for Mum, and thanked them so much for the beautiful display. We were very impressed by the way they had followed all our requests and chosen beautiful blooms. 

We then went on the Kirkdale cemetery, to say "Goodbye" to Mum - for now, at any rate; we shall be back more regularly in future. We saw the cemetery staff had arranged the flowers on top of Mum's grave in the form if a cross; we were very touched  by their thoughtfulness. Little things mean a lot!

I know we have to take care and act sensibly, but I think we must maintain an element of positivity as well, and be able to look forward to the future. In a few years' time, when things have calmed down, we'll look back on this era as part of our history, but hopefully without the fear so many people have at the moment. I am sure there will come a time when we shall be able to meet up with all the people who were thinking of us on Friday, 18 September, and have a chance to catch up, face-to-face. 

The flowers on Mum's grave

Kirkdale cemetery, Liverpool