One Year On

Well, I can't believe it's been a year already!

It has been a long and difficult year, with ongoing issues around the Will and Sandy's father David Munro passing last month. Here's hoping for a new year that's full of hope and positives, we are all due.

No day goes by without Sandy being missed.

Thoughts go out to everyone on this day.

Funeral Arrangements

The funeral for David Munro will be held 4pm this Thursday the 28th August at Fremantle Cemetary.

David Gordon Munro 24/4/1920 - 23/8/2008

David Munro passed away Saturday night on the 23rd August 2008.

He will be missed by all his family and friends.

Letter from Julie & Peter

For Sandy, with love: Some reflections near to the occasion of your 62nd birthday.

One of your many gifts Dear Sandy is that you are an inspired gardener. The magnificent garden you created at Egoline was a joy to many. No artificial flowers for you, only the authentic, beautiful and impermanent "real thing."

Impermanence is a central teaching in the Buddhist spiritual tradition. It teaches us that life does not continue unending, and that death is an essential part of all life. The rose, buds, blossoms, blooms and then the petals fall... the cycle continues. So it is for all of us. And you Beloved Friend, and fiercely magnificent woman, lead the way as you journey toward the end of your life with us. Thank you for lighting the way and for showing us the splendour of a fully realised life as you bloom with love and gratitude in your final days.

The unique beauty that you have brought to the garden of experience for your family and friends is unforgettable. Your spirited and determined energy, your clarity and integrity, your forthright honesty and your grace, beauty, generosity and womanly Sandy-ness has been a delight to us, thank you.

Your work here is nearly done Sandy. Go gently forward, knowing that what ever is around the corner, you have nothing to fear.

You are loved beyond measure.

And our loving good wished travel with you as you journey forth.

As ever

Julie & Peter

Service Proceedings

Sandy Martin
12th May 1945 - 22nd September 2007

 

Pinaroo
27th September 2007

 

"A human being is a single being. Unique and unrepeatable."

 

"And in my fleeting lifespan time went rushing by, I found some time to hesitate, to laugh, to love to cry... I was here, I used it all, and now I am at peace"

My name is Leanne Young and I am a civil celebrant. On behalf of the family of Sandy Martin I thank everyone for coming to this ceremony today, for it is always those who love the most who most miss the one they love. Sandy asked me to tell you all that 'dying was a joy' as she faced the last days of her life surrounded by those she loved more than any others.

In so many ways death unites us all. Sandy's life and death, for a time has demanded that each of us put aside our toils, our cares, our business, our pleasures, perhaps even our folly's to unite ourselves with everyone here, as fellow mourners sharing in the common bond of the loss of Sandy.

 

We have come together to mourn her leaving, to honour her life and her death, reverently, and meaningfully farewelling her body and to comfort each other.

We come knowing all human life is valuable, that the truth, integrity and hopefulness, which resides in each life lives on. We come knowing that Sandy's life, which we celebrate today and for which we now experience great loss, is joined in the eternal continuum of human endeavour stretching into the past and into the future.

Sandy's life was lived in its uniqueness with us and has now passed into the ultimate community of human existence with all its embracing diversity.

None of us knows the whole truth about what lies beyond death. Each of us will have our own beliefs in relation to that mystery. What we do know at this moment is that the life of this one whom we have loved lives on in us in a multitude of ways. Some of us will find that life within our own lives and memories; others will experience a sense of presence into the future.

It is a time like this that we stop the onrush of life, pause for a while (a half an hour is all Sandy was willing to allow us today) and reflect on Sandy's life. Sandy was a unique woman and today you can recall the experiences and the relationships you shared with her. As we celebrate her life today you can take comfort and satisfaction that Sandy has been and still is an integral part of your life. Her influence endures and will continue throughout the lives of those she has loved and lived for.

Last Wednesday Sandy asked me to reach into the drawer beside her bed and take from it a loving reflection from her beloved friend Denise's much loved sister Julie and brother-in-law Peter. She asked if I could read it on the day of her funeral service. What Sandy asks for, I realised, she gets.

Letter from Julie - Entry to follow

I now invite Denise to deliver lovingly, caringly and generously the story of Sandy's life...a life that has been lived and for all that her life has meant to us.

Denise eulogy - Entry to follow

Sandy's dear godmother Patty has some words she would like to share in memory of Sandy.

Patty's poem/reading - Entry to follow

In Sandy's words she said 'if anyone must speak they can, but absolutely no more than 1 minute'. So if there is anyone here who has a brief story to tell of a need to express their love of their grief in the sacredness of this chapel please do so however I will be honouring Sandy's very clear wishes and timekeeping!

Reflection - Entry to follow

We will now pause for a moment's reflection. For some this will be a time of prayer, for all of us a time to reflect silently on Sandy's courage and the meaning her life had for us. If there is anything you would like to place on Sandy's casket or if you would like to whisper a farewell you are invited to do so now.

Please stand for our final farewell. As we come to this moment of farewell part of our grief may be regret for things done or left undone, words said or never said or moments that have never happened. This is the time to lay aside all those regrets and to honour the spirit of Sandy herself who would not want them carried into your futures. Let us receive this gift of generosity from Sandy and go forward in peace.

Tenderly and reverently Sandy's body will soon be committed to the purifying fired, grateful for a life that has been lived and for all that her life has meant.

We give thanks for a life lived with courage, integrity, honesty and determination. It is not the length of the life which is important, it is the shape and spaciousness; for therein lays the potential for a beautiful freedom. It is the roundness of life that matters. A round life is surely a happy life and dare I say it a good life.

 

So we too should resolve that while we live we will strive to make our living too of real worth and carry to others the goodness of living as Sandy did.

Thus thinking of Sandy let us leave this place in quietness of spirit, conscious of Sandy's love and friendship resolved to live this way toward each other.

"The tide recedes but leaves behind bright seashells on the sand.
The sun goes down but gentle warmth still lingers on the land.
The music stops and yet it lingers on in sweet refrain.
For every joy that passes something beautiful remains."

For now please make your way through the door where you can gather for a moment longer.

 

Leanne Young
Authorised Civil Celebrant

The Longest Wake

Following Sandy's funeral ceremony, guests were invited back to Hinkler for refreshments and food.

Although I didn't get to see everyone, I know that a lot of people made the short treck back to Mil and Sandy's home to give a final harah and show their support to family and friends. Your time was appreciated.

Despite having an earlier "Pre-Wake" in May this year, where around 80 of Sandy's invited friends came to see her, it was difficult trying to estimate what was required for this wake. Thankfully Donna was placed in charge and was able to pull together an amazing party in a very short time. Because of such clever organising there was no shortage of refreshments, food or good laughter all night long. Donna was supported on the night by Julie Morgan who was never seen standing still making sure everything was in good supply. Sincere thank you to both Donna and Julie.

I believe the final harah lasted well into the early hours of the morning.

Beautiful Ceremony

The funeral for Sandra Martin was held yesterday amongst the native bushland of Pinnaroo Crematorium. I think everyone there would agree that the light rain was a very calming and cleansing climate for the service where some masterful arranging and performances ensured that Sandy received the funeral that she would have been proud of. Our sincerest of thanks to the following people from all of Sandy's friends and family.

• Phillip and the drivers from Simplicity Funerals,
• Leanne for her calming and sincere celebrant skills,
• Denise who managed to summarise a life full of never ending adventures,
• Sandy's godmother Pattie and her son Peter with a wonderful poem so aligned with Sandy and her artwork,
• Friend and surrogate family, Mil with her delightful description of such a lovely vessel,
• John and Penny for taking time out of their busy schedule to play such wonderful music

and

all 160 wonderful people who took time out of their busy lives to come and see Sandy on her final big adventure.

She will be missed, however her spirit will never be far from all the people who have known her.
We thank you all.

All going well, we will be posing transcripts of the ceremony for those who could not be there.

Funeral Arrangements

The funeral for Sandy will be held as follows:

Thursday 27th of September at 2:00pm
at Pinaroo Valley Memorial Park
Whitfords Avenue, Padbury