I'm back at work tomorrow and for the first time this week I woke up not aching all over and with only the slightest of headaches. I decided to take it easy today, doss about a bit then accompany my mum and sisters to say goodbye to Aunty Amy. My dad came too and it was nice to all be together. Despite my mum and dad being divorced for over 20 years, my dad still gets on with all of my mum's family and still keeps in touch with them. I think my cousins were really touched to see my dad there, they were pleased to see me too as mum told them that I wouldn't be able to go.
Two car loads of family came up from Leicester, my grandma, aunties Renee and Barbara all of their partners and baby Isobel (aunty Barbara's daughter). It was great to see everyone but sad as we only tend to see each other these days at weddings and funerals. The service was lovely and we were all given individual flowers to lay onto the coffin before cremation, it was a nice touch. The priest knew Aunty Amy and said some lovely things about her. She wasn't a catholic but everyone in her little community knew her so the priest agreed to come and do the service.
There were lots of tears but also lots of smiles and hugs, my Aunty Amy always had a smile and a hug for everyone. We all went to the little social club in Ribchester afterwards. There was a lovely buffet on with homemade cakes which looked just like the cakes that she used to make. Aunty Amy used to do all of the family buffets, she did my 21st, my cousin's weddings and countless others. We were all talking and remembering and wondering how on earth she had the time to do everything that she did. My cousin Lynne reminded us of the nighties that she used to give to us all at Christmas. I still have some of them and have saved a couple just in case I ever need to go in hospital.
There were lots of extended family there, who we only see occasionally but everybody got hugs and kisses, managed to do some catching up and remeniscing. My grandma managed to do some catching up with people. She looks really well and is very proud of all of her family. She says that her memory is going, but she was razor sharp today when she told one of us off for frowning and declared that by the time we're 40 we have the face we deserve.....
We all laughed out loud, she's full of these little pearls of wisdom is my grandma.
The brilliant thing is......My Aunty Amy would have loved this do, with all of her family there, everybody swapping stories and getting on. All in all it was an emotionally warm and fuzzy day and a celebration of a wonderful life.
Two car loads of family came up from Leicester, my grandma, aunties Renee and Barbara all of their partners and baby Isobel (aunty Barbara's daughter). It was great to see everyone but sad as we only tend to see each other these days at weddings and funerals. The service was lovely and we were all given individual flowers to lay onto the coffin before cremation, it was a nice touch. The priest knew Aunty Amy and said some lovely things about her. She wasn't a catholic but everyone in her little community knew her so the priest agreed to come and do the service.
There were lots of tears but also lots of smiles and hugs, my Aunty Amy always had a smile and a hug for everyone. We all went to the little social club in Ribchester afterwards. There was a lovely buffet on with homemade cakes which looked just like the cakes that she used to make. Aunty Amy used to do all of the family buffets, she did my 21st, my cousin's weddings and countless others. We were all talking and remembering and wondering how on earth she had the time to do everything that she did. My cousin Lynne reminded us of the nighties that she used to give to us all at Christmas. I still have some of them and have saved a couple just in case I ever need to go in hospital.
There were lots of extended family there, who we only see occasionally but everybody got hugs and kisses, managed to do some catching up and remeniscing. My grandma managed to do some catching up with people. She looks really well and is very proud of all of her family. She says that her memory is going, but she was razor sharp today when she told one of us off for frowning and declared that by the time we're 40 we have the face we deserve.....
We all laughed out loud, she's full of these little pearls of wisdom is my grandma.The brilliant thing is......My Aunty Amy would have loved this do, with all of her family there, everybody swapping stories and getting on. All in all it was an emotionally warm and fuzzy day and a celebration of a wonderful life.