Our family memorial service for my husband Bob was held just over a week ago in the Memorial Garden of our parish church where Bob had been on the staff for over 20 years after he retired from full-time work. It was a small gathering, but family members came from across the state and from opposite corners of the country (from Seattle in the upper northwest to Miami in the lower southeast).
The weather was beautiful; we couldn’t have asked for a lovelier autumn day. My husband had already chosen the Scripture readings he wanted, and the grandchildren all participated in the service by reading those Scriptures. Our parish priest, who considered Bob to be not only a parishioner and church employee but also a friend, gave a sermon that included a wonderful tribute to Bob.
When we first moved here to the Northeast Georgia mountains Bob told me he wanted to be buried here in these mountains. We laid his ashes to rest in the columbarium in the church garden at the foot of Sal Mountain. The front of the church faces out on Yonah Mountain. I think Bob would be happy knowing we honored his request.
Unexpected in common hours 
Deb, what a lovely service. I’m reminded at such times of John O’Donohue’s blessing-poem Beannacht, and I picture the “invisible cloak” as the love of your family and the spirit of the loved one. He recites it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRNjJ09T-VE
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Thank you for sharing that, Don. I’ve read some of John O’Donohue’s work but was not familiar with that blessing-poem. It’s beautiful.
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Which church is in the photographs? Would like to see the bell tower.
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It’s the Episcopal Church of the Resurrection on Duncan Bridge Road in White County.
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LOVE !! THANK YOU FOR SHARING!!
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Thank you!
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I trust the beautiful memorial to your loving husband would have helped to soothe the heartache you and your family are feeling a little, Deb.
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It did help. Three family members said it was the most beautiful service they had ever attended. And I think it was just what Bob would have wanted.
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Very sorry for your loss.
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Thank you so much.
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Very sorry to read of your loss. What a beautiful service though, to have friends speak so warmly of your husband and friends gather is heart warming, we are messing funerals up a bit in the UK not allowing sons to comfort their mother.
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Thank you. It was a lovely service. We had 12 family members present, but we were required to have the service outside, and everyone wore a mask and social distanced. No hugging.
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