Good bye, Mom
The sun returned alright, with a vengeance! We went from needing the heater to needing
the air conditioner overnight. Our high
today of 32C is nothing like many parts of Western North America though.
The last while saw me gathering and organizing photographic
material for my Mom’s memorial service which took place yesterday. I put together a short slide show set to
music with long pauses on each image so people had time to actually look at
them then the funeral home employees projected the show on their large screen
TVs. I think it was the nicest service I
have ever been to. Our son Richard was
the very able MC who held things together.
My brother Sam did a beautiful eulogy.
My sister’s Wendy and Becky along with Sam’s wife Sharon led us in three
old hymns with great audience participation.
Several other people got up and shared memories. There was a large turnout and lots of
visiting occurred while sharing in the bountiful spread of food prepared mostly
by our families.
This afternoon, a group of us travelled down Island to inter
Mom and Dad’s ashes on the summit of Mt Prevost which was one of their
favourite places during their courting years and for many years after. Unfortunately, there was a steep hike
involved so that meant many people wouldn’t have been able to attend.
It is a relief to finally have all this behind us. Aileen and I will soon depart Vancouver
Island and try to resume our exploration of new areas and return visits to
places we’ve seen in the past. We have a
few things to attend to in Salmon Arm so that’s where we will head July
17. Our last commitment on the Island,
so far, is the 65th wedding anniversary of one of Aileen’s cousins
in Victoria.
Tomorrow we are going to Campbell River for a couple days
then hope to find a quiet spot for a few days to put the last couple months
behind us.
One of the most popular tourist attractions in this area is the Coombs Market. The main building is known far and wide for the goats that live on the sod roof.
On the way home from the market, we saw this deer family on the side of the road
Sunset at Qualicum Beach the other night
The last resting place for my parents
The group who made the climb to inter the ashes. That's me on the far right.
So sorry for the loss of your Mother, John. It's always a very tough time.
ReplyDeleteWhat a tremendous and thoughtful way to remember her though by interring your parents ashes at a place that held such importance and great memories for them.
I admire you too for making the steep hike up to the top of Mt. Prevost - what a climb that is!
Take care.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Rick. Glad you and Paulette had a good time up there the other day. Mom and Dad can look down on our old farm which is now part of the golf course on the Cowichan Lake Highway as well as the farm Dad was raised on.