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By admin, April 19, 2011 12:35 pm

Tomorrow I am going to help my old school friend bury her husband.

After decades of pain and depression, he finally ended it all with a brand new white rope.

She found him.

She has asked me to bring my video camera to record the Service, as she explains: “Patty, I always remember you saying, that you might not want to view the images now, or even next week, but one day you will come to a place in your life where it might be good to view the funeral, and the DVD will be there, quietly waiting for you.”

So, tomorrow, I will help my old school friend bury her husband, who loved her, but depression and constant chronic pain won out.

Rest in Peace.

~~~

Today I am going to help my old school friend bury her husband. I’ll be the oldest friendship there to support her, and although her nursing friends and old bridesmaids will be there, although her small family consisting of her only brother and his wife and kids will be there, I will be the one with the oldest memories of her; memories of a single girl, a carefree, happy redheaded blue-eyed school girl, in the school hallway bent over laughing at my jokes.

We both travelled to Cooktown together in our senior year, keeping a watchful eye on the young boys as we were plunged into a series of small train tunnels, pitch black and groping hands, to emerge in the blinking daylight, slightly dishevelled with smug teenagers sitting opposite us, looking like butter wouldn’t melt in their mouth. It was a game and we played along, much fun.

Over the years we kept in loose touch. If I was staying in the Hunter Valley helping my old wine-maker friend Jim Roberts pick his grapes, I would stay with her and her husband.

Her husband was a soft, gentle man, a large man, a lumbering giant heaving an unworkable broken body around the best he could. In those days he drove a taxi, and could get around a little bit, but the passing years were unkind to him, and gradually depression began to taint his world and the shutters closed in.
~~~
Today my husband was showering early, and I heard him yelp from where I was in the kitchen. I called out: Are you alright? Darl? Are you ok? And with his silence my footsteps quickened to reach him.
He stood there, water droplets from the shower covering the paddocks of his back and shoulders. On Sunday he had spent most of the day changing over 45 fluorescent light tubes at his work, and one of the tubes had cut his finger deeply. It was this sore finger that had banged against the towel rail, and it had silenced him with sudden pain.

I gently took the white towel and slowly, tenderly, wiped his back, his legs, his chest. “There you go, the rest is up to you” I said, and left him to finish the job.

Some days marriage is like that, you have to be there and step forward.
~~~
“When you first told me what you did, I couldn’t understand it, I thought ‘A funeral photographer? What the hell?’ but now I totally get it.” We speak softly, the phone nuzzles into my neck, and I close my eyes and imagine we are once again sitting in the spa we shared only weeks ago. “I want you to photograph him, and film the funeral, in fact I want to take the DVD over to Ireland and share it with his old friend. She can’t make it over for the funeral. I’ll take it to her.”

Already in her mind, she is moving forward, seeing a fresh day, a new start, a different tomorrow.

A fortnight ago we stayed at O’Reilly’s in the Gold Coast hinterland, the four of us women coming together in solidarity of having some time to ourselves. I spoke to her about everything but her husband. She needed the break, and I made it clear that the topic was always there if she needed to, wanted to speak about him; I was all ears and arms; to wrap around her. We watched an opera DVD, Cecilia Botoli. Eventually, she leaps to her feet, and begins to move to the music.

This is the first time I ever lined-danced to opera she says. I try to keep up with her steps, but it’s not for me, the set routine and boredom of repeating movements. I lash out and wobble my bits in joy, dancing for a moment in the rainforest. We laugh and giggle, like the old schoolgirls we still are.

Neither of us then imagined that we would be arranging his funeral. My friend is my old schoolgirl mate, childless, now widowed. She’ll rise above this, and move forward, and I’ll be there to help if I am needed.

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By admin, April 7, 2011 12:41 pm

Here’s to the crazy ones.

The misfits.

The rebels.

The troublemakers.

The round pegs in the square holes.

The ones who see things differently.

They’re not fond of rules.

And they have no respect for the status quo.

You can praise them, disagree with them, quote them, disbelieve them, glorify or vilify them.

About the only thing you can’t do is ignore them.

Because they change things.

They invent. They imagine. They heal. They explore. They create. They inspire. They push the human race forward.

Maybe they have to be crazy.

How else can you stare at an empty canvas and see a work of art?

Or sit in silence and hear a song that’s never been written?

Or gaze at a red planet and see a laboratory on wheels?

While some see them as the crazy ones, we see genius.

Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.

From Apple campaign, created by TBWA Chiat Day/Los Angeles
Copywriter – Craig Tanimoto

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By admin, March 10, 2011 2:02 pm

I know most crematoriums and Chapels now offer to record your Loved One’s funeral, but do you really want a standard, genetic DVD showing either the backs of people’s heads, or just one long image staring from the front of the Chapel? I offer personal, bespoke video, capturing your special moments with sensitivity and flair. Contact me on 0417 887 316 for further details. Once taken, never forgotten.

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By admin, January 11, 2011 8:18 am

I promise…

I promise not to charge you for every little transition, edit, effect or pan and zoom movement when I create your funeral Tribute DVD for your Loved Ones. This is all a natural part of creating something worth watching.
I promise not to fill your screen with images of birds, sunsets, the ocean or clouds unless they are relevant to your Loved One. You are here to honour and remember them, not look at nature or butterflies.
I promise not to bombard you with trivia and details of DVD creation that you are unable to take in at this distressing time.
I promise you that if you request me to create a Tribute DVD, you can relax knowing it will be done and you will have peace of mind.
I promise you that if you request me to film at a funeral, you will know that I am quietly there archiving your life.

I promise you can rely on me.

I promise to use my years of experience to create a DVD you will watch, and love, and share.
I promise you that I will create a Funeral Memorial Book you will love, look at, and share.
I promise you that I will always be discreet, and sensitive. I too, have lost my Loved Ones.

I promise you I will respect your wishes at all times.

I promise you I will use the music you have selected where possible.
I promise you I will use the names, dates and any quotes, poetry, psalms or prayers you select within the Funeral DVD Video.
I promise you that I will always use the highest quality software and transitions to create a video worthy of your Loved One.

Comments (1)

By admin, November 15, 2010 9:45 am

I had a phone call late on Sunday afternoon.  I nearly didn’t take the call, as I was half asleep and the mobile was upstairs, but I bounded up to grab it before the caller hung up.  It was from Susan, the daughter of my late dad’s old regimental army buddy Dennis.  I photographed his funeral for her 18 months ago, creating a DVD to watch if and when she felt up to it, and also creating a photographic book for her family to keep.

At the time of Dennis’ funeral, Susan was a little distant; (perfectly understandable, funerals are very stressful) and although she wrote me a lovely note at the time, I felt that she didn’t have any intention of looking at the book, or the DVD.  That’s ok, we all come to things at different times.  She may have never wanted to look at either, but if she changes her mind, it’s always there for her, quietly waiting.  I am archiving her family history.

Anyway, she told me that “the whole idea of you photographing my father’s funeral didn’t sit well with her at the time, but now that 18 months have passed, she now looks at the album each week.” 

I love to look at the album, thankyou so much Patty.

“If I knew then what I know now, it would be so different” and then she went to apologise to me for being a bit stand offish to me at the time.  I’m a little used to this, I know I am the devil’s advocate sometimes, as I am sure some members of the families think “why would we want images of this?  Why do we want to remember a most painful day of our life? Why take photos at a funeral?”

Obviously I am at a certain funeral because other members of the family do want me there, and so I try to become invisible, not intrude on their grief, not to cry myself (but some days I do wipe a soft tear away, I am human too) and I always have to capture all the special moments of each Service.  The heads bowed in respect, the Poppy Tributes, the signing of the Condolences Book and so on. 

A long life well lived is a sad funeral, but not necessarily a tragic one. The family usually gather and regroup, and honour their darling beloved one, and share his wonderful life.  I love funerals like this, and I love to learn new things about someone I though I knew…for example Dennis was a great dancer, and loved to have friends around each weekend, pushing the lounge room furniture to one side, covering the floor with pops, and spending a few dreamy hours waltzing their wives around, arm in arm.  Such a beautiful memory.

Anyway, Susan tells me on my phone that she “loves to look at the album” and appreciated my taking photos of ‘the old RSL men, and the reunion buddies”.  I am so thrilled with her call I can only smile and thank her.

She tells me she hesitated in ringing me, but thought that she should, as she and her whole family just love the album so much, and really value it now.  From what I gather, they haven’t yet watched the DVD, but that’s ok, each to their own, and in time, who knows?  It’s there for them, when they are ready. 

I hang up and feel validated, and valued.  Thanks Susan for your call, it made my day.  I am so happy and pleased my work gives you and your family pleasure and memories.

~~~

I wrote about meeting Dennis here: Meeting Dennis

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By admin, November 14, 2010 5:31 pm

I woke with such a lightness I needed the weight of Remembrance Day to ground me. Spring in Brisbane, with the sobbing clouds of night rain and a refreshed morning, fills my driveway with heavy Jacaranda blossoms. My car has been to a wedding overnight without me. I don’t bother to wipe the flowers away; there are too many of them and anyway, I love the effect of driving down Latrobe Terrace with traces of purple flying off my car like warp speed particles. It adds to the character of the suburb.

In today’s paper I can see there are a few Services I can go to. I am spoilt for choice, yet strangely I am compelled to visit Ashgrove. The last time I was there was for Carols by Candlelight 22 years ago, even though I drive past the central island park each day. A renewed Ashgrove Traders group and a spanking new Memorial within the park have motivated the locals to hold a Service, and so I drive there to be early for the 10.45am start.

The garden beds are full of blue lobelia and the colour is electric against the green of the grass. A woman walks towards me holding poppies for sale, she has one each side bent with wire around her glasses. She looks quite eccentric. I withhold my mirth and gratefully accept 2 flowers in exchange for a fiver.

And then the Service commences. Blimey! I am never late but it looks like I skidded here and only just caught the beginning. We gallop through the agenda, the MC is a local teacher from the Catholic Girls School nearby. He is reading a piece written by an ex-digger who is too unwell to be here in person, and he holds the paper up close to his eyes, squinting in the morning sun. We politely listen and mentally smooth his ragged speech into a sense of cohesion.

I take photos on my Blackberry, and send them to my mother’s email address. There’s an old man sitting, leaning on his cane, listening with effort to the thin voice of the announcer. To his right, stands the solid cenotaph, built stone by stone. I quietly take his photo. He stands shakily when the Ode is being read, and we all mouth Lest We Forget. Men replace their hats. Young girls dab their eyes.

We are then told that the minutes silence is to be held ‘as close as possible to eleven o’clock’ so we have a small interval. We’ve peaked very early. There is 20 minutes to fill. The small crowd filters over to read the new display of New Guinea information and photographs. It seems the 61st Battalion were very active after the war ‘cleaning up the Japs’ and black and white images of sweating bare-chested men and bogged army trucks stare back at me.

A motorcycle policeman gently purrs past us, glancing in on the crowd. The price of freedom is eternal vigilance.

Photographs of men in kilts (a Macdonald never yields!) are grouped together as part of an Ashgrove chapter of army men. A large group of small kids run barefooted beside them as they march through the main street, bagpipes blaring. You can imagine the noise and excitement! Some of the children look as young as four, only one wears a hat, and he looks a proper dandy. It’s not a kid’s hat, it’s a prissy one. I wonder who he grew up to be?

Soon it’s time to rejoin the Remembrance Service, before we forget why we are there. Whilst we look at our watches waiting for the next 3 minutes to pass, I take the newly arrived Westpac Bank managers photograph, with his young teller. We recognized each other when she tried to register my new credit card a few weeks ago. We exchange chitchat and soon the Poppy Lady is making a bee line to him.

I gently tease, saying it was so good to see the big banks putting their hand in their pocket, but he isn’t amused, and I regret my tackless jibe. He hands her a $20 note and assures her to keep the change. Her job is done! I offer to take their photograph on his mobile phone, and they both beam with poppies and civic duty smiles.

At 11am we re-commence the Service with the Last Post, except the sound doesn’t work from the IPod to the speaker. I am delighted at the use of new technology, it would be even better if it worked, but for now we have the Last Post and the one minutes silence all in one. Reveille.

Whilst we were looking and remembering and dreaming in the photographic display, an old soldier named Bob shuffled in and sat on the park bench, resplendent in army greens, tropical style. He even has a khaki pith helmet on, although I’m pretty sure I’ve never seen anyone wearing a camouflaged pith helmet in WWII, but that’s just me.

At the end of the Service I place one of my poppies onto the cenotaph, leaving the other tucked firmly behind my right ear.

More photographs. A twenty-five pounder gun sits on the corner of the park, jutting it’s historic strength to the passing traffic. Look at me! I am powerful! It is the gun my father used in the war, and I have a large soft spot for it.

I shake a couple of the old men’s fat hands, and say a grateful Thank You.

I wait patiently to speak to Old Bill, but he is holding court with a young woman, pointing to each medal on his chest. “This is my fathers, this one is for General Service in World War II”, and he proceeds through each unpolished, chinking medallion.

As I drive past later, I can see he hasn’t moved from his bench.

There are still a core group of six people listening to him and giving him the attention he came for, lovely. That will make his day, the dress up was worth it. I touch the red poppy behind my ear, and press my foot to the accelerator.

Time to live the rest of the day.

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By admin, November 11, 2010 10:10 am

By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918)
Canadian Army

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

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By admin, November 11, 2010 10:06 am

With proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children,
England mourns for her dead across the sea.
Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of her spirit,
Fallen in the cause of the free.

Solemn the drums thrill; Death august and royal
Sings sorrow up into immortal spheres,
There is music in the midst of desolation
And a glory that shines upon our tears.

They went with songs to the battle, they were young,
Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted;
They fell with their faces to the foe.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years contemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

They mingle not with their laughing comrades again;
They sit no more at familiar tables of home;
They have no lot in our labour of the day-time;
They sleep beyond England’s foam.

But where our desires are and our hopes profound,
Felt as a well-spring that is hidden from sight,
To the innermost heart of their own land they are known
As the stars are known to the Night;

As the stars that shall be bright when we are dust,
Moving in marches upon the heavenly plain;
As the stars that are starry in the time of our darkness,
To the end, to the end, they remain.
~~~

Laurence Binyon (1869-1943), the poet and art critic, was born in Lancaster in 1869. He worked at the British Museum before going to war, having studied at Trinity College, Oxford where he won the Newdigate poetry prize. Whilst on the staff of the British Museum he developed an expertise in Chinese and Japanese art.

Aside from his best known poem For The Fallen (1914), most notably the fourth stanza which adorns numerous war memorials, Binyon published work on Botticelli and Blake among others. He returned to the British Museum following the war. His Collected Poems was published in 1931
~~~

I love this poem, I think my favorite lines would be:
They went with songs to the battle, they were young,
Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted;
They fell with their faces to the foe.

Makes me weep each time.

Comments (2)

By admin, September 10, 2010 10:25 am

The Catholic Church has banned football club songs and popular music at funerals under strict guidelines sent to priests and funeral directors.

“Secular items are never to be sung or played at a Catholic funeral, such as romantic ballads, pop or rock music, political songs or football club songs,” the guidelines state.

The guidelines were sent by the Archbishop of Melbourne Denis Hart and state that a funeral should not be a “celebration of the life” of the deceased.

They say any celebration should be done at a social occasion before or after the funeral, the Herald Sun reports.

Outspoken Catholic priest Father Bob Maguire has described the guidelines as “insensitive.”

He said the new rules would pose a dilemma for clergymen.

“If the bosses say you can’t do it, then we’re in a position where we have to say you can’t do it,” he was quoted as saying.

But Bishop Les Tomlinson, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Melbourne, is standing by the guidelines.

The main focus of a funeral should be “commending the deceased person to God,” he said.

What do you think?  Do you agree with the Bishop, that funerals that a funeral should not be a “celebration of the life” of the deceased.

Full article here:

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By admin, September 3, 2010 10:53 am

This note was sent to me by an old friend today, and it gave me an opportunity to speak to you about your funeral.

The President of the Colostomy Association where I volunteer passed away and I went to his funeral and didn’t like what I saw.

The whole service from start to finish including the coffin disappearing behind the curtain took only 30 minutes. Not much for a bloke who gave so much to the community during his life. The celebrant even made an announcement at the start that someone’s car was blocking another car and could they move it.

So I came home and planned my whole funeral: where, what music, who should speak, what poems etc; down to what colour hearse.

You only get one funeral so I want mine done right.

Many people may be unaware that around Brisbane and in other cities most crematoriums only have an hour booking for your funeral.  This gives the funeral director 15 minutes to set up your coffin, set up the DVD or PowerPoint presentation of your life, any music, flowers; and to welcome guests, sign the Condolence Book and so on.

Then you are given 30 minutes to actually have your funeral, then another 15 minutes to tidy up, exit the Chapel/Crematorium and leave it clean and empty with no lingering mourners, so that the next funeral can take place.  I don’t know about you, but it’s not long, is it? It’s a busy world, even with funerals.

 Death is something we all have to do, no one has a monopoly on it, and we all shuffle to our mortal end eventually.  Are you ready? More importantly, is your family ready, and do they know what you want for your own funeral?

Do you want to be buried or cremated?  Do you want your ashes scattered, or left in a brick wall, or taken home in an urn?

Below is a quick check list of ideas.  I will add to this when I have the time, but for now, it’s a start.

Don’t forget to select your music, (3 – 5 songs) and any photographs you would like to be remembered by.

Choose at least 30 – 50 images, more if you want.  Personally I’ve told my kids I expect lots of crying and lots of photographs, haha. Actually, I wouldn’t like them to grieve to much; I’d like a celebration that I was here.  I existed.

And you? What would you like to be remembered for?

To Do Immediately After Death.

When someone close to you dies, most of the time the hospital or other authorities are there to take care of the medical necessities and formalities for you.

If someone dies at home, you should contact the person’s doctor who will explain what steps to take to get a Death Certificate.

What do you do when someone dies?

This depends on where the person has died and the cause of death.

When someone dies at home, his or her doctor is the first who you should call. The doctor will prepare a death certificate. Then call the Funeral Director to arrange for the deceased to be transferred to a funeral home.

When someone dies in a nursing home, the home will call the Funeral Director nominated by the family at the time the now deceased first took up residency.

When someone dies in a hospital, the family calls the Funeral Director of their choice who will make all the necessary arrangements with the hospital, transfer the deceased to the funeral home, confirm arrangements for cremation or burial and attend to all the details involved in arranging the funeral.

When a death is sudden and unexpected, accidental or a suicide, the doctor or the family must notify the police who will arrange transfer to the John Tonge Centre (Brisbane) by the government contracted undertaker.

In these circumstances the cause of death, possibly involving a post mortem, will be ordered by the coroner. Funeral arrangements may be delayed until necessary documentation has been completed.

When someone dies interstate or overseas, the local procedures must be followed and local authorities will liaise with your Funeral Director while making arrangements for the deceased to be brought home.

Because so many Australians are migrants, there are those who wish to be interred in the lands of origin. Your Funeral Director will attend to this responsibility on behalf of the family.

•  Check for any written instructions for the body disposition, funeral plans and other details.
• Contact family, friends, and co-workers who may not be aware of the death.
• Gather information for obituary and contact newspapers.
• Contact deceased’s employer.
• Take security precaution.
• Assign a house sitter.
• Remove valuable items from deceased’s house.
• Forward mail.
• Cancel newspapers.
• Remove any jewellery from deceased.

 Funeral Arrangements to be made.

• Select clergy.
• Choose funeral home.
• Decide the location of the service.
• Burial or cremation or Memorial service?
• Decide on place and time of funeral service.
• Inquire about special religious services.
• Choose a burial container.
• Choose a burial site (find burial property documentation of ownership)
• Decide either outer burial container or crypt.
• Pick out clothing for the deceased.
• Choose scripture to be read.
• Choose individual(s) to read eulogies.
• Pick type of flowers and music.
• Photographic presentation of life.
• Choose pallbearers.
• Order a funeral limousine.
• Find type of religious, fraternal or military service of deceased.
• Choose the memorial type and inscription.
• Sign necessary papers for burial permit.
• Choose a charitable organization to receive donations.

 Personalizing Your Ceremony.

Provide guests with small gifts to remind them of you:

• If you love to cook, provide guests with a stack of your favorite recipes
• If you’re a photographer, provide guests with some of your favorite snapshots
• If you love to garden, provide guests with a packet of flower seeds so they can plant them in your memory
• If you’re an avid wildlife person, ask your guests to release wildlife in your memory (pheasants, butterflies, birds etc.)
• If you absolutely love ice-cream (or any other type of food), throw an ice-cream social after the ceremony (or for the ceremony, if you prefer)
• If you’re all about being Green, invite guests to plant several trees in your honor
• If you do a lot of volunteer work, provide guests with the information of the places you volunteer at and ask them to continue doing your work
• If you were a firefighter or other type of serviceman, have your funeral procession led by the respective vehicle
• Animal lover?  Invite your guests to bring their pets to an outdoor ceremony
• If you plan on having a very small, intimate funeral ceremony, consider writing all of your guests a personal note
• If you’re a music writer or song composer, provide your guests with a pre-recorded version of one of your songs
• If you’re a writer, write your own obituary and funeral message.  That way it’s you speaking to your guests, not someone else speaking about you
• If you’re an artist, create a self portrait of yourself which could be photocopied and given to your guests
• Compile your favorite photographs and create a slideshow that could be shown during the ceremony or reception.  That way, you’re the one in charge of sharing the memories you want to with your guests.  
• If you participate in an activity or sporting event (softball, basketball, triathlon, broomball etc) ask individuals to create a team in your memory and play or participate for a season
• Provide postcards that are addressed (to family, for example) and stamped, then, ask guests to take a few home with them and when they think of a special memory, they can write it down on the postcard and mail it.  That way, special memories and stories can always be shared with the family
• Instead of having your casket covered in expensive flowers, encourage family members and friends to bring in memorabilia to lie on the casket instead (IE: old sport jerseys, handmade blankets, pictures etc).  This allows all funeral guests to share in special memories.  

 Facts to Find for Obituary.

• Given name – favorite pet name, nicknames (Johnno, Bluey)
• Date and birthplace.
• Mother’s maiden name and birthplace.
• Father’s name and birthplace.
• Those who have proceeded in death.
• Survivors and relationship to deceased.
• Occupation and employer.
• Hobbies, interests.
• Schools attended.
• Armed services number

Other Things to Do Before Funeral.

• Meet with funeral director and clergy or celebrant.
• Write a eulogy.
• Search for special wishes included in will.
• Keep a list of callers, flower tributes and donations.
• Pick out clothing for deceased to wear (men usually wear a suit, women would like makeup)
• Arrange care for infants or other minor children.
• Meet out-of-town attendees.
• Provide lodging for out-of-town attendees.
• Answer phone calls and letters.
• Prepare your home for family and friends.
• Remember to eat!
• Have a glass of something special, to toast your Loved One and to ease your own stress.

Documents to Locate

Always a good idea to place allof your special documents in a drawer or file, and tell your next-of-kin or executor where to find them.

• Will.
• Birth certificate.
• Insurance policies (health, life, property)
• Property deeds.
• Income tax returns (past two years)
• Disability claims (if any)
• All documents necessary for deceased’s taxes (ask your accountant)
• Military discharge papers.

Notify the Following

• Doctor.
• Family members.
• Close friends.
• Cemetery and funeral home.
• Attorney, accountant, executor of estate.
• All insurance agents.
• Religious, fraternal, civic organizations.

Bills to Be Paid

• Funeral director.
• Family burial space.
• Clergy.
• Interment/burial services.
• Florist.
• Memorials.
• Funeral services.
• Limousines and funeral hearse.
• Newspaper notices.
• Refreshments.
• Clothing.
• Medicine and drugs.
• Others (rent, mortgage, taxes)

 There are many ways and many ideas, these are just a sample few.  What are your thoughts?

Don’t know what to say on your Sympathy Card?

Here are some well known sympathy quotes taken from this helpful site:

Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal. ~From a headstone in Ireland

In the night of death, hope sees a star, and listening love can hear the rustle of a wing. ~Robert Ingersoll

When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight. ~Kahlil Gibran

A human life is a story told by God. ~Hans Christian Andersen

To live in hearts we leave behind. Is not to die. ~Thomas Campbell, “Hallowed Ground”

We must embrace pain and burn it as fuel for our journey. ~Kenji Miyazawa

While we are mourning the loss of our friend, others are rejoicing to meet him behind the veil. ~John Taylor

He who has gone, so we but cherish his memory, abides with us, more potent, nay, more present than the living man. ~Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Life is eternal, and love is immortal, and death is only a horizon; and a horizon is nothing save the limit of our sight. ~Rossiter Worthington Raymond

Oh heart, if one should say to you that the soul perishes like the body, answer that the flower withers, but the seed remains. ~Kahlil Gibran

He kept at true good humour’s mark. The social flow of pleasure’s tide: He never made a brow look dark, nor caused a tear, but when he died. ~Thomas Love Peacock

Tears are God’s gift to us. Our holy water. They heal us as they flow. ~Rita Schiano, Sweet Bitter Love

When someone you love becomes a memory, the memory becomes a treasure. ~Author Unknown

If tears could build a stairway, and memories a lane, I’d walk right up to Heaven And bring you home again. ~Author Unknown

It is the will of God and Nature that these mortal bodies be laid aside, when the soul is to enter into real life; ’tis rather an embrio state, a preparation for living; a man is not completely born until he be dead: Why then should we grieve that a new child is born among the immortals? ~Benjamin Franklin, 22 February 1756

With what a deep devotedness of woe. I wept thy absence – o’er and o’er again, thinking of thee, still thee, till thought grew pain. And memory, like a drop that, night and day, falls cold and ceaseless, wore my heart away! ~Thomas Moore

And with the morn those angel faces smile. Which I have loved long since and lost awhile. ~John Henry Newman

The angels are always near to those who are grieving, to whisper to them that their loved ones are safe in the hand of God. ~Quoted in The Angels’ Little Instruction Book by Eileen Elias Freeman, 1994

Good-night! good-night! as we so oft have said. Beneath this roof at midnight, in the days. That are no more, and shall no more return. Thou hast but taken up thy lamp and gone to bed; I stay a little longer, as one stays. To cover up the embers that still burn. ~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Unable are the loved to die. For love is immortality. ~Emily Dickinson

Perhaps they are not the stars, but rather openings in Heaven where the love of our lost ones pours through and shines down upon us to let us know they are happy. ~Author Unknown

When he shall die. Take him and cut him out in little stars. And he will make the face of heav’n so fine. That all the world will be in love with night. And pay no worship to the garish sun. ~William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet

Although it’s difficult today to see beyond the sorrow. May looking back in memory help comfort you tomorrow. ~Author Unknown

For death is no more than a turning of us over from time to eternity. ~William Penn

While we’re mourning the loss of our friend, others are rejoicing to meet him behind the veil. ~John Taylor

He who has gone, so we but cherish his memory, abides with us, more potent, nay, more present than the living man. ~Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal. ~From a headstone in Ireland

In the night of death, hope sees a star, and listening love can hear the rustle of a wing. ~Robert Ingersoll

Oh heart, if one should say to you that the soul perishes like the body, answer that the flower withers, but the seed remains. ~Kahlil Gibran

When someone you love becomes a memory, the memory becomes a treasure. ~Unknown

Good men must die, but death can not kill their names. ~Proverbs

For death is no more than a turning of us over from time to eternity. ~William Penn

Tears are God’s gift to us. Our holy water. They heal us as they flow. ~Rita Schiano

I look at life as a gift of God. Now that he wants it back I have no right to complain. ~Joyce Cary

When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight. ~Kahlil Gibran

Unto God, the Lord belong the issues of death. ~Psalm 68:20

We must embrace pain and burn it as fuel for our journey. ~Kenji Miyazawa

Blessed are those who mourn; for they shall be comforted. ~Matthew 5:4

For some moments in life there are no words. ~David Seltzer

A grave is braced not just by a tombstone but by angels as well. ~Adabella Radici

Death— the last sleep? No the final awakening. ~Walter Scott

When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight. ~Kahil Gibran

He who has gone, so we but cherish his memory, abides with us, more potent, nay, more present than the living man. ~Antoine de Saint-Exupery

To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die. ~Thomas Campbell

If ever there is tomorrow when we’re not together…there is something you must always remember. You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think, but the most important thing is, even if we’re apart…I’ll always be with you. ~Winnie the Pooh

They that love beyond the world cannot be separated by it. Death cannot kill what never dies. ~William Penn

Our death is not an end if we can live on in our children and the younger Generation. For they are us, our bodies are only wilted leaves on the tree of life. ~Albert Einstein

While I thought that I was learning how to live, I have been learning how to die. ~Leonardo Davinci

As a well-spent day brings happy sleep, so a life well used brings happy death. ~Leonardo Davinci

Dying is something we human beings do continuously, not just at the end of our physical lives on the earth. ~Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

The day which we fear as our last is but the birthday of eternity. ~Seneca

The greatest tribute to the dead is not grief but gratitude. ~Thornton Wilder

For death is no more than a turning of us over from time to eternity. ~William Penn

Such a beautiful human blessing to cover hurt and longing by words. What was your favorite?