Yesterday we said our last goodbye to my lovely sister and it was one of the saddest days of my life.
The Humanist service was beautiful. From the wicker coffin to the music her partner and children did her proud.
The chapel was filled with so many of her family and friends that I think it was standing room only. A testament to how very much she was loved by everyone who knew her.
Her children gifted all her sisters a piece of Maggies jewellery and I have a bracelet which I am going to have her name engraved on and once that is done I will wear it every day so that she is always with me.
Today is the first day of the rest of my life without her and it is going to take a good while for my broken heart to start healing but I will get there one tiny step at a time until I can think about her without crying and just remember the good times.
On the path back to normal.....there is cooking to do, a vote to cast and some shopping to be done later. I am also going to try a gentle foray back into my sewing by prepping some fabric for the start of a quilt top. It will be one for Andy which will include a shirt which belonged to the brother he lost two years ago. I have collected other shirts from the charity shops to include with it.
Have a good day.
Sheila-x-
Just sending you a (((hug))) Sheila x
ReplyDeleteHugs very gratefully recieved Sooze-x-
DeleteSending you and yours huge hugs, Sheila. Humanist ceremonies are wonderfully respectful and so deeply moving.
ReplyDeleteWhen Mum died I shared her jewellery out amongst my friends and treasured blog readers so we all had a memory of her. xxxx
Awww thanks for the hugs Vix.
DeleteI thought the Humanist ceremony was amazing and have decided that I want that when it's my time to go. It was so much more about the person and yes so very, very moving-x-
Oh my goodness, I am so sorry for your loss. I too have lost a sister in the past few weeks very unexpectedly, she was only 48. I have been looking at your posts, and I have an almost identical photo of me and my sister and some cousins with a monkey at Minehead! How times change...
ReplyDeleteDebdor please accept my sincerest condolences on your loss. Your sister...like mine has gone way too soon and it is heartbreaking.
DeleteI hope you have many treasured memories to bring you some comfort-x-
Thanks, you too xxx
DeleteIt sounds a lovely service Sheila and how thoughtful of Maggie's children to gift you all jewellery, obviously a testament to how well she raised them to be so thoughtful of others.
ReplyDeleteLife does go on, there will be bad days, better days and good days, steps forward and steps back, but I'm sure she would want you to remember her with a smile and you will get there. Hugs to you and all the family. xx
Oh Suzanne it really was as beautiful as a funeral can be and definitely so much more about Maggie than a religious service would have been.
DeleteYes life will go on. I will be glad to get to the stage where I can think of her without crying and without this terrible need to scream though.
Hugs-x-
Just take one day at a time, it will be difficult but as stated above life goes on, take care, thinking of you xx
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Marlene-x-
DeleteI lost my baby sister a couple years ago, God it is hard, so hard. You are going about your day she flashes in your mind, then a fist of pain hits you in the heart I would actually stumble with the pain and shock of it. Blood hell if it was hurting me this way I could not imagine how her twin was doing. She wasn't doing well. With a little encouragement Mom moved in with her there are times when only your Mom can help. Sorry to go on, but it's close to home. Hold the ones you love close to your heart,share the memories, cry, laugh and love.
ReplyDeleteI am so very sorry for your loss.
DeleteI don't think the pain will ever go away Wenda. It's just finding a way to cope with it.
I'm not close to my Mum but I do have support from my wonderful husband and daughter-x-
I was thinking of you yesterday Sheila. It sounds like it was a lovely service and what a thoughtful gesture of Maggie's children to give you all a piece of her jewellery. Getting it engraved with her name is perfect.
ReplyDeleteSending hugs. X
Jules your support and kindness over the last few weeks has been amazing and I thank you from the bottom of my heart-x-
DeleteSorry for the loss of your sister , I too think humanistic services are much better than the normal religious services so much more personnel xxx
ReplyDeleteThank you so much-x-
DeleteHello Shelia. I have followed your warm,funny and easy going slice of family life blog for over a year and truly have no idea why I have never commented before. I was thinking of you yesterday and your family and hoped the sun shone down on you all. I have heard of people having an actual star or rose named after a loved one. I hope you don't mind me saying this but a Maggie rose with maybe something before or after Maggie ? Wishing you all strong and happy memories to see you through the darker days xx
ReplyDeleteHello Nat....your comment is very welcome today.
DeleteGreat minds must obviously think alike as I already have plans to find a rose to name after Maggie and place in our garden and I will name a star after her next April for her birthday.
The sun did shine for Maggie all day yesterday-x-
I was thinking of you yesterday and hoped all went well, sending you a hug with the hope that it helps. It sounds like a beautiful service and such a great idea to engrave the wonderful gift of the bracelet. Take care.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much MM. It went very well and even the weather was kind-x-
DeleteThe service sounds wonderful and so appropriate for your sister. I would prefer a Humanist funeral for myself and would want a wicker coffin too. OH won't even let me discuss it though. It was a lovely idea to give you some of her jewellery. I'm sending you some virtual comforting hugs now....take care, Angie xxx
ReplyDeleteIt was wonderful Angie. I have made my wishes known now to Andy and DD. It is definitely what I want too.
DeleteThank you so much for the hugs-x-
Glad to hear you feel like doing something creative...what a lovely idea for the bracelet. An item to treasure forever. x
ReplyDeleteMaggie would kick my butt big time if I didn't get on with something Jackie.
DeleteI can't wait until the bracelet is done so that I can wear it.
Hugs-x-
I was thinking of you yesterday Sheila, the pain will ease and happy memories will take its place. I am glad the service was special, go with the grief it will change and happy times will come again. From someone who knows what it is like to lose a sister. Be kind to yourself Sheila.
ReplyDeleteTender hugs, Hazel c uk
Bless you Hazel.
DeleteThank you so much for your kind and supportive words and the hugs-x-
Sheila, so sorry for your loss.
ReplyDeleteI lost a dear friend a few years ago, very suddenly. His widow had the idea of making knee blankets, from some of his many shirts, of which he was fond, I use it often,as I sit and make jewellery. Each time I use it ,I remember him with love it makes me smile and I can see him wearing them. I thought it was a lovely idea, it was also a help to his wife as she could not bear the thought of throwing them out.
Walk in beauty
Kathy
Thank you so much Kathy.
DeleteI really love the idea of memory quilts....so comforting. I am thinking of asking Maggies partner for a piece of clothing to add to a quilt for myself-x-
It must be some comfort knowing how loved your dear sister will always be.Baby steps for now and you will get there xx
ReplyDeleteIt was a huge comfort Chris to see so many people who had taken the time to come and say goodbye to my darling Maggie-x-
DeleteSending hugs your way for such a difficult day.
ReplyDelete