Yesterday was my dad’s funeral. In some respects it seems like a long time ago he died, when in fact it was only 2 weeks ago. I had been both looking forward to and dreading the funeral. I wanted to be able to say goodbye, and yet I know that by doing so that really is the end. He really isn’t coming back. It now seems very final, and yet still strangely surreal.
The service was good, we had Dire Straits playing on the way in, and the Rolling Stones playing on the way out. Andrew read a pirate ship poem which my dad liked, in fact about the only thing Dad ever learnt at school and remembered I think.
Something that dad would have found very funny was that the music backing track to the hymns had different lyrics to that which we were singing from the books. It was quite hard to follow the singing, but I know Dad would have laughed. The crematorium was full to capacity, about 90 people. Lots of Masons, old and current neighbours, and ex work colleagues, as well as family. It was nice to see so many people had come, and everybody had a funny story to tell about Dad, I think his sense of humour will be something that is remembered by most people.