The words below were written and read by me at my mother's Celebration Service held at the Chapel Hill Uniting Church, Kenmore, Brisbane on Thursday March 2 2006 at 2.30pm. My mum died almost 20 years after my dad. Just introducing myself as the baby of the family in case everyone had forgotten, including mum. And while we're on the subject, just reminding you, Dad, that I'm still the favourite :) Mum was a family woman - she was proud of her family, her girls, her husband. And any family life, of course, is not always easy. But in the face of a death that's full of faith, for me all this fell away - I thought of mum and my family and was just filled with love - for her and my sisters, brothers-in-law, nephews and nieces, sons and daughters. Family was all-important to mum - when her granddaughter Marina was married, mum came to the wedding in spite of being quite sick that day. When my son was burnt at 18 months, mum and dad travelled to Perth to be with us. Phone calls and prayer chains were arranged by mum when crises hit my family. Letters flew between us over the years and I still have many of them. And she always prayed for us and all her family, daily. I have written a few little verses of love for mum: Mum, how I loved you as I sat with you after the end Looking at your face and thinking of the road you walked down All the giving and the loving and the compassion there And also the cares and concerns and suffering I know that we come into and go out of the world with nothing I know you slipped quietly away in a quiet room But your entrance to the other side would have been anything but quiet - I can just imagine! There was something holy about that time When I and my youngest son lingered in that moment Thank you for your spirit Your strong, unquenchable, resolute spirit that carried you through this life And from here into the new I didn’t remember the past That has been changed by your spirit of faith And I look into the future with hope Thank you, mum. My mum was so musical, creative and artistic. I would like to play a medley for mum as a tribute to her gift of music. Harmina's Autobiography Hillie's imagEnation Homepage