Last week I attended a funeral. It happens, I’ve been to a few in my time. They say the only thing you can ever be sure of in life is that one day you will die. Quite a depressing thought. One thing I have noticed though, the more you do in life, the more ripples you cause, the more you leave behind and in that sense you are never really gone. As the great Sir Terry Pratchett wrote;
“…no-one is finally dead until the ripples they cause in the world die away…” The Reaper Man
The funeral I attended last week was that of my Auntie E. I was really fond of her but I had not realised just how many ripples she had created.
My nan had two boys and six girls, the boys came first, then my mum was the eldest girl followed closely by Auntie E. This made them very close, through thick and thin. Mum was close to all her sisters but her bond with Auntie E. was never broken. There was a time when the whole family was divided and for some reason my mum had chosen to stand by someone when everyone else knew it was wrong. Auntie E. knew it was wrong too, but she was the only one who stood by mum in her hour of need.
I didn’t speak to my mum for five years. With the help of Auntie E. she helped us, slowly, to build bridges and become close again. At least I had my chance to make peace with my mum before she died which I would never had done had it not been for Auntie E.
Auntie E. had four children, lots of grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was loved dearly.
Her youngest child was blind and severely disabled. She always cared for him, right up until he was into his forties and had suffered a serious stroke. It was only when she became very ill herself that she allowed for him to go into care.
Auntie E. worked right up to her retirement. She had many jobs but she always worked both paid and voluntary. She raised lots of money for charity. She did lots of work for her son’s special school, she was constantly fundraising. She was always collecting clothes and bric a brac for stalls and fundraising events.
Auntie E. got married in 1952, she only married once, Uncle D. will be missing her.
Most people remember Auntie E. because she was such a fun loving bubbly person, as her granddaughter said at her funeral, she was always the first one up to dance at a party, and the last one to sit down. She loved holidaying in Spain, but I believe she wasn’t a spring chicken the first time she ventured abroad. Also, she wasn’t so young when she learnt to drive. She definitely showed spirit and refused to grow old.
So many people where touched by her life, her ripples will continue for a long time. She will be missed.
I want to be more like Auntie E. I want to make an effort to show people that life is for living. I want to do more, show more compassion, just make more of my life outside of my little bubble that is my family and home. I want to create ripples too.
Goodbye Auntie E. Rest in Peace now xx
I am so sorry for your loss….She sounded like a wonderful lady x
Thank you Kim, she was x
So sorry to hear about Auntie E. Much love. x