And it was quite a moving experience. This was the second completely non-religious funeral I have been to. No hymns, no prayers, but music and poetry. It was a recantation of his life with a quiet time for remembrance, or for personal prayer for those who wanted to. Then off to the pub where Jerry had already paid on a two-pin (= a firkin, or 8 gallons) of Excelsior for his wake; so perhaps, now I am back home, I am not just sad but drunk but maudling...
There were many old faces present, some I will be keeping i touch with, but I spent much of the time talking with Jerry's granddaughter, who I've known since she was a precocious tweenager. She was always the smart one though, with just the right quip, snub or put down line. Now, with a degree in 'psychology and criminology' or something like that, she is everyone's equal. Love her to bits, and she seems to have got herself a nice boyfriend too.
A good day, but a sad day. I leave you with this song from The Incredible String Band. Jerry's daughter found this track on his iPlayer among the last things he listened to, and she played it at the funeral.
Incredible String Band ~ October Song
Thursday, 1 April 2010
I just came home from Jerry's funeral
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4 comments:
I think you may have been spammed above?
Glad to hear that the funeral was a relevant send off.
Cheers Dave, it was relevant. Hymns and prayers would have been hypocritical given his views of religion.
Spam deleted.
It sounds like a thoroughly fitting tribute to your mate.
I remember sitting in a crematorium in Warrington for my uncle's funeral. There were three of us - my Mum, me, and the woman who ran the OAP home where he'd lived (...ish) before he died. As Arthur had never set foot in a church, it all seemed a bit pointless. I made this point to the minister afterwards, and he agreed with me, with a wry grin.
I'd organised the thing, but if I'd known about secular send-offs, I'd have given Arthur one of those instead.
I think it's only right to celebrate someone's passing in the same way as they lived. A few years ago my former boss' wife died. She was a religious lady and a regular church goer so I had no hesitation in joining in with the hymns. It's what she would have wanted, a fitting tribute as you say.
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