Great Grandma’s Cremation

Sad day today, another one!

Once more, the title is self-explanatory. Two weeks after her death we said goodbye to Great Grandma today. I worked in the morning as I had some urgent things to attend to and then from 11.00am we got ourselves sorted. We went over the the Crematorium about 12.20pm and there was a number of people there already, eventually most of the family were there which was pleasing, Louise and all her family, haven’t seen Trevor in about 5-6 years, Ricky and Lisa were there and so were the two girls which we weren’t expecting, Matthew and his wife too. Alan from the close was also in attendance and pleasingly Mum had been allowed to get Derek from the Nursing Home so he could come as well. He will have to self-isolate now for 14 days but he’s not doing much at the home so that’s not going to be any sort of inconvenience for him!!

We waited outside chatting and it was subdued as you’d expect but some normal chatter as well. The hearse arrived so we made our way down to the entrance and waited for a while and then were allowed in, sat at the front with Mum so I could support her if required and Derek was next to her in his wheelchair. Grandma was brought in and the service was present by a chaplain who was nice enough and instead of singing hymns there was music played and this worked. Nice to hear about Grandma’s life and admittedly it wasn’t as heart-breaking as you’d expect. Lewis stepped up to the plate and read her favourite poem, ‘”Wandered lonely as a cloud” and did brilliantly, I was extremely proud of him, and even afterwards Jack admitted to him that he’d not have been able to say anything so was impressed with his brother.

The service passed and then all done and we’re being ushered out, we waited around in the rose garden looking at the flowers and messages and chatting and comforting a few who were upset. After a bit we needed to make a move so Mum called for the taxi and we went and waited out in the car-park continuing conversations etc with people we hardly see anymore and will likely see even less of! Taxi came and that was the signal for things to finish. Mum went with him and Louise’s family went to her house – bit annoyed about that because it’s obvious they were going to but Mum played it down and was suggesting it wasn’t going to happen and that’s why they couldn’t come to ours – anyway, whatever.

So we came back here and sat around the dining room table for food and drinks and didn’t go back to work. Nice afternoon, chatting about everything and remembering funny stories about Great Grandma.

Mum came round later for an hour and the by about 5.30pm it was all done. We got changed into more comfortable clothes and put a film on. Had a bit more wine and beers but nothing to overdo things and generate hangovers!

Off to bed for an early night in what has been a long, tiring and emotional day.

Said it before, but Grandma was a remarkable woman and she’d enjoyed a great life and was well-loved which goes without saying. she’ll be sorely missed but we’ve been so lucky to have been able to enjoy so much time with her.

xxx