Eulogy video

Click the following link for video of the eulogy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3K_U-5RHmY&feature=youtu.be

Follow the eulogy text in the post below.

Eulogy Text

If there was one thing that always brought life when mom was present, it was laughter. She

Robin

A few years ago, I was sitting at the bus stop at Quadra and Blanshard St., waiting for the #6.

An elderly woman walked over to me and we began chatting. She was so excited because she

had recently got her mobility back, could walk again, and was enjoying the outdoors once

more. She spoke to me very highly of her physiotherapist, a South African woman, who

helped make this all come about. You know how this ends; before long, we established that

the physio was my mother.

This is not a unique story. I know many of us here today have been healed through Mum’s

care and advice, and I know there are people here who, in part, owe their ability to move

freely to Mum. She was a healer, and this desire and gift was woven into the fibre of her

being. Ever since she was 10 years old, she wanted to be a physiotherapist. I don’t know

about you, but when I was 10, I could barely spell physiotherapist.

Mum was not one for sayings or adages, like “an ounce of prevention is worth more than a

pound of cure,” but she did live this. Many of us were “healed” from future ailments through

Mum’s preventative care. When lifting a heavy object, you’d better bend from the knees or

watch out! Father William, from having Mum in the parish office for some time, I’ll bet your

posture is better! I had a friend in highschool who slouched horribly; she didn’t slouch in my

house! No matter who you were, Mum wanted you to live fully, and would go to great

lengths to help heal, comfort, and strengthen.

Jesus said, “I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.” Mum accepted

this proposal, and lived life in all its abundance. Carpe Diem, was not a phrase Mum used,

but she always seized the day.
Would you have got on a 10-ton concrete yacht with a scruffy engineer and sailed half-wayWould you say to the man you loved, “So are you going to marry me or what?” Mum did. Would you risk falling in love and pouring your life into a spouse and children. Mum did.

But when it came to living fully, there is one gift that she reserved for Lauren and myself

alone. She gave us life, literally; from the moment our lives began, she added to it, nourished

it, carried it, and breathed herself into it. God chose her alone from all humanity to fulfil the

role of being our mother, and she poured herself entirely into that sacred vocation. Thank

you, Mum, for our abundant life.

Lauren

Mom had a great sense of humour often taking it out on dad! In a stormy day out in the Atlantic,

mom had to winch dad up the mast to change the light on the boat. The wind was smacking

dad around, causing him to curse and swear so Mom decided she was not up to listening to

that type of language, and proceeded downstairs to have a nice cup of tea, leaving dad stuck

up the mast till mom felt like bringing him back down.

Even when times where tough, mom still used laughter as a form of medicine. Two weeks

before mom passed, when she was having difficulty speaking, we put a bell next to her bed to

ring if she needed us. One morning my dad and great aunt where sitting having breakfast;

suddenly they heard the bell ringing from the bedroom. They both rushed in to see if mom

was ok, to find her sitting comfortably in her bed. She smiled and whispered “I just wanted to

see who would come running first”. Even in the face of grave illness, Mom still found ways

to lift our spirits due to her love and compassion for us. It seems very appropriate that her

day of passing was Valentine’s Day, a day that celebrates love. Personally, I think she always

wanted to be remembered with roses and chocolates.

I am certain that mom has touched each of us with her never-ending desire to help, love and

understand. I saw this in mom at a very young age in a grocery store line. The cashier was

very rude and unpleasant to us, and I immediately wanted to be rude and unpleasant back to

her; mom however continued to be polite and friendly and not let this women’s disposition

affect her. As we walked away I asked mom how she could still be so polite to someone who

was so rude, mom replied, “you just don’t know what that person may be dealing with in

their own life”. I will never forget her sense of compassion, and to this day I am always

particularly friendly to grocery cashiers.

Throughout mom’s journey with cancer, her love for family, friends and strangers continued

to shine. Two Fridays ago, battling to walk herself, Mum noticed an elderly woman

struggling with her walker. She made her way over, and quietly helped the lady through the

door. They silently exchanged knowing glances of companions on a common journey. Just

last Saturday in the middle of the night, I sat with mom on the side of the bed ensuring she

was comfortable. She turned to me and asked if

others first.

We are here celebrating the life of this great woman who healed and cared for others, lived

life fully, passionately, and humorously, and above all, loved unreservedly. She lives on and

is still with us. Try to imagine her, not in some distant heaven but all around you. For she is

closer to you than your own heartbeat.

To finish, Robin and I would like to offer this song to carry our laughter and sorrow and

honour Mum’s life.