annanotbob2's Diaryland Diary
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Service
I'm going to write about Stepfordtart's funeral because I know she had a lot of friends out here in blogland who loved her and would have been there if you/they could.
It was big. Maybe the biggest funeral I've been to. In a church, a big old Anglican church. The vicar at the beginning said it was a Christian service because that was what Sarah had chosen, which, she said, may be a surprise to some people, but she did believe so could we all just go along and listen to the spirit and intent and poetry of the words, no matter what we all think. Which was a bit strange because it was in a church, so kind of a clue that it will be religious, and did she (vicar) really think some might be arsey about it? But we didn't.
We started by singing Jerusalem, Sarah's choice, a belter, the WI's hymn, and she'd left instructions for us all to sing out, good and loud, which I did, but not many others. I remember her telling me to sing louder, years ago, and I have done ever since.
Then her sister spoke about her, movingly, beautifully, with props - bubbles and a miniature of bourbon. Followed by elder daughter, known in the blog world as Jooj, who told stories that made my heart bleed with love and sorrow for how like her mother she is, how stalwart in the face of adversity, how she managed to be sharp and funny and true. The vicar said she thought Sarah would have wanted these speeches to be met with a big round of applause, so they were.
Another hymn, 'Our God, Our Help in Ages Past' which was harder as no one seemed to know it but we gave it a go, for Stepfie.
The vicar read psalm 42 and lines from the Song of Solomon and said prayers for Sarah and her family.
The service ended with this:
I am so grateful to have known Stepfie, to have lived near enough to have crossed over into Real Life with her. I don't know what happens when we die but I hope we'll meet again there. God bless you dear one.
11:39 p.m. - 14.11.16
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