Clare's Second Funeral

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From: "Ann Eagles"
To: <ridlydidly>
Subject: Clare's Second Funeral
Date: Thu, 30 Aug 2007 15:41:00 +0100

Hi Rosee

I just wanted to tell you about Clare's '2nd' funeral for the blog.

Her last wishes to us were that she be cremated, then her ashes put with my parents grave in Liverpool as she loved my Mum and Dad, and her third request was we take some out to Hong Kong and Bali to scatter on her favourite beaches.

On August 18th, we went to Liverpool for the internment. It was typical funeral weather, dark brooding skies and pouring with rain. The church St Peters in Woolton, is famous for the place that Paul MacCartney and John Lennon first met in 1957, and Eleanor Rigby's grave is close to my parents in the graveyard.

About fifty people came, which surprised me as I was expecting about thirty or so, but as always, Clare's life had touched so many people, and people who couldn't make it to London for the first came to this.

I wasn't sure what to expect - I've never done this before. The vicar took us into a back room joining the church-I didn't want a full blown church service- so he'd put out chairs and a map of the world next to a candle on a small altar, on which we also put a picture of Clare and her little casket of ashes.

I had written to him to tell him about Clare's life - so he read it out and also read a psalm - then Syd, Clare's 'father' read another piece - about how, in the six months since her death, we miss her more and more. It doesn't get any better in time, only worse.

I then told the little story about years ago, Clare told me she wanted to be buried with Nana & Grandad in Woolton, I said I wanted to be cremated and my ashes scattered - about six months later I told her that I changed my mind, and I wanted to be buried with my parents in Woolton - as seeing that I would die before her, I'd be the one to go into the grave next (we thought mistakenly that there were 3 places for burial, where as there are only 2). She was so annoyed,'you can't do that, I'm going in with Nana and Grandad' she said................so my lovely Clare, you've won!!

We then played her music again as we did the first time, and walked to the grave, where the vicar said a short blessing and put her little casket in the grave, with her Nana & Grandad at last.

There were so many flowers - beautiful - we then walked down the hill to a local restaurant for the 'wake' and so had our final drink with Clare.

The day went off very well - I think she would have enjoyed it and approved - lots of family and friends , lots of good food and drink.

So the next leg will be Hong Kong , we leave to go on November 15, November 21st to Bali.

Will keep you updated

love

Clare's Mum Ann