This post is dedicated to my Auntie Joan Theresa Perrault McNally who passed away January 13, 2013 and her Memorial Service is tomorrow.
May she forever Rest In Peace.
It started when I was in Grade 8. It was Labour Day weekend and my Dad received the call. If he
wanted to see his father before he passed, he had to leave right away. By the time he had packed his bag the second call arrived; my Pépére was gone.
That December my mother’s mother passed, and from that point on, death has always had a front seat in my life.
I nursed both my parents to their death by the time I was 40, but I think it was attending the funeral of the first person I ever fell in love with, that made everything really resonate. Life is short.
Because death haunts me to the core; listening to someone delivering someone’s final exhalation, helps me process the loss and aid with the grieving process. What better tribute than to hear the song that reminds you of most of them, or a video they have prepared for their young children to help them say good bye. Just typing that makes me think of how many times I have unexpectedly experienced the ritual, swells my heart and dampens my eyes.
For me any eulogy is a sign of unconditional love. It`s opens my heart as wide as it can go. When it comes to me, my thoughts are few and my wishes fewer; all I can do is hope that when my time comes there is laughter. I don’t want people to be sad. I have worked my entire life not to be sad.
When my eulogy is delivered, just like my Auntie Joan I hope that they start with: I am really going to miss Rhondi. She unconditionally loved life. She never EVER gave up!