MUSIC ON ENTRY
Spanish Eyes by Julio Iglesias
WELCOME & OPENING WORDS
Hello everyone and a very warm welcome to you all. Thank you for coming to our service to celebrate the life of Sylvia, as we say our loving farewells to her surrounded by our love and affection.
My name is Teri, and it is my privilege to be your Celebrant, and I would like to thank Sylvia’s family for helping me put together our ceremony. Peter and Debbie told me that their mum was someone who loved life, and always had a smile on her face, and I can see that we have already started to commemorate the way in which Sylvia lived her life by wearing bright colours in her honour, in remembrance of the way she used to brighten up our own lives.
And as we progress through our service, we will be further honouring Sylvia by paying tribute to her with our words and the music that has been chosen in dedication to her, all of which will help us remember the special characteristics and personality with which she was blessed, as we express our thanks for the gift that her living brought to each of us.
First and foremost, Sylvia had a great love for her family, and on behalf of the family, I would like to thank the Marlborough Court Care Home, as we acknowledge all they did for Sylvia and for making the last few years as comfortable as they did for her. And to you, Sylvia’s family, and her friends, I would like to offer you my kindness and compassion, in the hopes of bringing you some comfort here today.
Sylvia enjoyed dancing, and when the music stops for someone you love, you don't stop dancing. You dance for them as well, so today, I invite you all to think of a memory you have of Sylvia, one which is joyful and uplifting...now close your eyes and picture her right there in front of you...I’ll give you a moment to let that image come to mind.....hopefully you will have thought of something...and what I would ask is for you to carry that image with you throughout the whole of our service, as a means of sending Sylvia all your love, wishes and affection.
Sylvia now sits in our heart where she has taken up a new place of residence, and although she may no longer walk upon this earth, our connection to her remains with us and will accompany us on our own journey through life.
We now have the Eulogy, which will be read to us by Joely.
EULOGY
Read by Joely
Sylvia, Sylv to her friends, was born at 8.30am on the 26th July 1933 in Brockley, mere minutes before her twin Sid was born, she had one other brother Frank and two other sisters Mag and Bet, here she lived through the war years, which Sylvia described as fun, and she would often say times were better then.
Sylvia used to love showing a little war wound on her leg which she got whilst hiding under the dining table when a bomb landed at the top of her street, blowing out the windows which nicked her leg and soot from the chimney got into the wound and as Mum said it was never cleaned out properly.
On March 5th 1955, at St Catherine's Church in Deptford, Sylvia married Brian who she had met and fell head over heels in love with several years earlier, this year was their 65th wedding anniversary, they were very much a devoted and loving couple.
In 1959 their troubles started, Peter was born and soon they moved to a three bedroom house in Eltham, in what Sylvia would describe as run down but it was theirs, they put in a lot of hard work creating their beautiful family home.
In 1964 more trouble, Debbie was born, actually in the house, which is what Mum and Dad wanted - I think Peter had put Mum off going to hospital again.
As the years rolled on and the house really took shape Mum’s pride was the garden which she would tend to all day and night if she could, she absolutely loved gardening, replacing dying plants with new ones on a regular basis, down the years we must have visited every garden centre in England, she turned a ramshackle area, into a place for people to admire and mum and dad to relax in, especially with a nice glass of Gin and tonic or two, and if it had been a hard day gardening, just leave the bottle with plenty of ice.
Another of Mum’s pride and joys and the loves of her life, were her five grandchildren, Laura, Craig, Tallon, Tia and Terran. And her eight great grandchildren, Joely, Lila, Aaron, Lauren, Reegan, Eva, Renzo and Lacey. She adored each and every one and would spoil them in her own little way.
Another of Mum’s passions were her holidays especially camping, or is it glamping holidays to the Lake District, and especially around Lake Windermere and Keswick, which the family visited many many times over the years, even heavy rain couldn’t deter Mum from enjoying her life under canvas, with their four man tent, carpets, curtains and a complete kitchen unit, well nearly, it was literally a home from home but without a bath, walking was another passion of Mum and Dad's, and so most days whilst away were spent hiking the length and breadth of the Lakeland.
On one occasion Mum had made up a lunch of sandwiches, crisps, cakes and other goodies to eat en route, so off they set with Peter carrying a large rucksack full of food and drink and a couple of blankets to sit on, after several hours of walking and Peter and Debbie moaning they finally settled down to eat their lunch, unfortunately it was back at the spot they had started from, when Mum used to remember this story she would literally cry with laughter.
Over the years Mum and Dad would camp in several places around the country, Wales being very popular with them.
Another story that made Mum really laugh but not Peter was when Peter was a baby in his pram and Mum and Dad had gone to the beach for the day, probably Brighton as this was a very popular destination for mum and her family when she was a teenager, as they stood by the footpath looking out to sea, the pram rolled away over the edge and onto the beach, mum thought dad had put the brake on and vice versa, still mum said I was lucky because it was a nice Sandy beach, thanks mum.
Mum and Dad also enjoyed holidays abroad especially to Majorca where they went several times, and probably would have loved to have moved out there if given half the chance.
Mum was also a very keen dancer as was dad so at most parties they would be the first ones to get up and dance and probably the last ones to finish.
We haven't mentioned the other love of mum’s life Julio Iglesias, she loved him and had most if not all of his albums, if he was on telly you daren’t talk she would give you a look and you knew to keep quiet Mum had a fantastic sense of humour, she was full of joy and loved life fully especially with family and friends around her and a trowel in one hand and a G and T in the other.
Mum goodbye for now we miss you so much you will be forever in our hearts.
Thank you, Joely. Another of Sylvia’s favourites (not as much as Julio Iglesias mind you), was Frank Sinatra, and we’re now going to take the opportunity to gather our thoughts and listen to Frank singing That’s Life.
REFLECTION MUSIC
That’s Life by Frank Sinatra
Today we are grateful for the opportunity of being present today, so that we can ensure that Sylvia is well-received into her final resting place, and as we say our loving farewells to her, let us place her at the forefront of our minds, as we recite the Lord’s Prayer altogether, united in our love for Sylvia. Let us pray...
THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father, who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive those who trespass against us;
And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory,
For ever and ever.
Amen
COMMITTAL
Please would you stand for the Committal. On behalf of us all, we gather to entrust Sylvia to that eternal power of love which cradles her across time and eternity. We are glad that she lived and loved, we are glad that we saw her face, and knew her as we did and had the good fortune to walk the path of life with her.
And as we say our loving farewells, Sylvia will slowly be taken from our view, but never from our hearts where she will reside forevermore, providing us with many precious recollections to treasure and hold onto forever as she dances through our memories, threading thoughts of love through our very being.
Dearest Sylvia,
We honour your life and are blessed to have heard your laughter and seen your smile. Our lives are richer for having known you and having shared in the love you gave us and the love we felt for you.
We have cleared a place in our hearts and minds for you, and there you will remain forevermore. Go now, with all our love, to be reunited with all those who have gone before,
especially your parents, and your brothers, Frank and Sid.
May you rest in perfect and everlasting peace.
CONTEMPLATION MUSIC
Fly Me To The Moon by Frank Sinatra
CLOSING WORDS
Please would you take a seat. Alongside the moon, there are stars up above, so far away that we only see their light long after the star itself has gone out. And so, it is with the people we loved – their memories keep shining ever brightly, though their time with us is here on this earth is over.
But the stars that light up the darkest night, are the lights that guide us, and as we live our days, there are always little things that we will remember. We may not recollect everything, but we will remember the tune Sylvia danced to and it was one of happiness, generosity and joy, and we are here to welcome her whenever she appears, for she will brighten up our hearts with our memories of her.
My friends, our time here together is coming to a close and we will shortly be leaving the chapel, and I sincerely hope you will join me in thinking that we have done our very best for Sylvia here today and can leave her safe in the knowledge that we have honoured and paid tribute to someone very dear to us.
Our final song is You’re The First, The Last, My Everything by Barry White, and as the music plays, let it serve as a reminder that in the spirit of love for Sylvia we have gathered, and in the spirit of love we shall depart, holding her ever close within our thoughts for a very long while to come. Just before we go, I would like to offer you a blessing to accompany on your way back to your daily lives.
May those beautiful yesterdays always remain in your mind, And your sorrows gently fade away.
May words of comfort, rest tenderly upon your heart. May the long-time sun, shine forever upon you.
And may the colours of Sylvia’s life
Leave a shining light to guide you safely on your way.
It remains for me to wish you all the very best, my thoughts go with each and every single one of you as we conclude our service in celebration of the life of Sylvia.
MUSIC AS WE LEAVE
You’re The First, The Last, My Everything by Barry White