I entered the church before my childhood friend Jean's father's funeral and felt a lightness when I heard the music of the big band era sprinkled with jazz. I wondered why I hadn't thought of that for my own father's funeral. My father had loved to dance and it would have been so appropriate.
The Methodist Church, which was the setting for the funeral, brought back memories for me. As a teenager I had sometimes gone to church with Jean and we always sat in the balcony where the young people sat. The Congregational Church across the street where I attended didn't have a fun balcony.
The purpose of going to church with Jean was to check out the Methodist boys. It seemed like I had known the boys in my church since I had been in diapers and there was nothing intriguing about them. I probably should have visited the Catholic Church with another friend who attended there as I really knew all the Methodist boys from school...well heck...I knew the Catholic boys too. It was a small town.
Jean's father had requested an uplifting funeral service and his family did not disappoint Ruth and Max Bloomquist, a famous Michigan duo, sang three songs at different intervals and their style had me tapping my toes.
Jean and four grandchildren spoke and shared personal stories about their father and grandfather. There were humorous anecdotes which caused laughter among the crowd. Harold, Jean's father, was 94 when he died and had just recently attended his 76th class reunion. A couple of his classmates were in attendance.
Much like the funerals in New Orleans where a small jazz band escorts the casket to the cemetery, I felt this funeral showed that the memories of one's life can definitely be a celebration.
For that reason I am giving a you tube site where anyone reading this can listen to a song written and sung by Ruth Bloomquist who sang at Harold's funeral. The loveliness of her voice needs to be shared. So let's raise a glass to all the people we loved who have gone before us and until it is our turn, let us toast the people we love who still surround us. May we all celebrate the holiness of life.
Heart and Hand by Ruth Bloomquist
http://youtu.be/kSmL4Xlzy4Y
The Methodist Church, which was the setting for the funeral, brought back memories for me. As a teenager I had sometimes gone to church with Jean and we always sat in the balcony where the young people sat. The Congregational Church across the street where I attended didn't have a fun balcony.
The purpose of going to church with Jean was to check out the Methodist boys. It seemed like I had known the boys in my church since I had been in diapers and there was nothing intriguing about them. I probably should have visited the Catholic Church with another friend who attended there as I really knew all the Methodist boys from school...well heck...I knew the Catholic boys too. It was a small town.
Jean's father had requested an uplifting funeral service and his family did not disappoint Ruth and Max Bloomquist, a famous Michigan duo, sang three songs at different intervals and their style had me tapping my toes.
Jean and four grandchildren spoke and shared personal stories about their father and grandfather. There were humorous anecdotes which caused laughter among the crowd. Harold, Jean's father, was 94 when he died and had just recently attended his 76th class reunion. A couple of his classmates were in attendance.
Much like the funerals in New Orleans where a small jazz band escorts the casket to the cemetery, I felt this funeral showed that the memories of one's life can definitely be a celebration.
For that reason I am giving a you tube site where anyone reading this can listen to a song written and sung by Ruth Bloomquist who sang at Harold's funeral. The loveliness of her voice needs to be shared. So let's raise a glass to all the people we loved who have gone before us and until it is our turn, let us toast the people we love who still surround us. May we all celebrate the holiness of life.
Heart and Hand by Ruth Bloomquist
http://youtu.be/kSmL4Xlzy4Y
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