Uncle Russell
May. 2nd, 2009 08:11 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
vervet_monkey*breathes* Little bit manic few days...
Russlls funeral was yesturday. I wasn't going but Dad asked me too, espcially as he was carrying the coffin and speaking. And I am actually really pleased I went.
It was a bit stressful leading up to it. One of my Aunts is... more than a little over-powering and making a fuss about everything. Panicing about parking and moaning that it was organised for 3pm on a friday when the schools come out and it was forcast to rain (it didn't) The grave site was in the wrong place and why wasn't he being buried next to Grandad. Basically anything she could think of. So that didn't help.
When Dad was speaking to Russells wife she was saying we were expecting 300 - 400 people... to which our jaws kind of dropped. The church only sits just under 300 so speakers were being put outside. And we had police escorts for the parking. Becuase of all the confusion and the size of our family anyway, we went ahead to the church, left Dad outside and went in to sit. We had about 5 rows at the front for family, and we all fit in fine.
Then everyone else started to arrive and the church filled up. And then we put chairs out in the aisles, so there was literally just enough room for the coffin to be walked down and people squashed themselves at the back. There were about 400 people in this church, with the speakers still outside.
The service was really nice. Dad did a bit about growing up, although how he made it to the end I don't know. He barely looked like he could stand gripping onto the pulpit. And one of russell daughters did a bit too, and he had the Beatles and Carpenters playing. It was really lovely and personal.
Then we came to take the coffin down to the grave, so we walked out behind. Coming out of the church was incredible. You seriously could not move for people, there were people standing out on the road, in the carpark, and across the road at the pub garden too. It was so amazing.
So yeah. Although I can't say I knew my Uncle well, I was glad to be there, to support Dad and as part of such a big family. We sure as hell have our problems, but it was so nice to see everyone come together.
Russlls funeral was yesturday. I wasn't going but Dad asked me too, espcially as he was carrying the coffin and speaking. And I am actually really pleased I went.
It was a bit stressful leading up to it. One of my Aunts is... more than a little over-powering and making a fuss about everything. Panicing about parking and moaning that it was organised for 3pm on a friday when the schools come out and it was forcast to rain (it didn't) The grave site was in the wrong place and why wasn't he being buried next to Grandad. Basically anything she could think of. So that didn't help.
When Dad was speaking to Russells wife she was saying we were expecting 300 - 400 people... to which our jaws kind of dropped. The church only sits just under 300 so speakers were being put outside. And we had police escorts for the parking. Becuase of all the confusion and the size of our family anyway, we went ahead to the church, left Dad outside and went in to sit. We had about 5 rows at the front for family, and we all fit in fine.
Then everyone else started to arrive and the church filled up. And then we put chairs out in the aisles, so there was literally just enough room for the coffin to be walked down and people squashed themselves at the back. There were about 400 people in this church, with the speakers still outside.
The service was really nice. Dad did a bit about growing up, although how he made it to the end I don't know. He barely looked like he could stand gripping onto the pulpit. And one of russell daughters did a bit too, and he had the Beatles and Carpenters playing. It was really lovely and personal.
Then we came to take the coffin down to the grave, so we walked out behind. Coming out of the church was incredible. You seriously could not move for people, there were people standing out on the road, in the carpark, and across the road at the pub garden too. It was so amazing.
So yeah. Although I can't say I knew my Uncle well, I was glad to be there, to support Dad and as part of such a big family. We sure as hell have our problems, but it was so nice to see everyone come together.
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no subject
Date: 2009-05-04 03:54 pm (UTC)Wow... I thought my family was bad but yours is huge! How on earth do you keep track of them all?
no subject
Date: 2009-05-04 04:16 pm (UTC)They weren't all family, just to add. But they think there were about 600-700 people there in the end. Probably about 100 of which I was related to in some way shape or form!