The funeral

Vivian was 90 years old when she passed away. She had lived the last 4 years in a special care unit. The more recent months of her life she was in and out of the hospital....last one was for pneumonia, which she never really recovered from. She was released from the hospital to go back to her room at the unit with hospice "comfort care", 10 days later she died.
Her service was held by Ron Thomke and Amy Ngo. It began with one of Vivian's favorite songs "O Danny Boy", played as a violin and piano duet. Amy read the obituary, prayed and had a brief message. Ron had a message and prayer. They both shared memories they had of Vivian, the fruits of the Spirit they saw in her. Ron mentioned that verse that says "Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy", he was talking about Vivian and her kindness towards others and then in her latter years how kindness was returned to her. He said that kindness is the outward expression of mercy. The family chose 2 congregational hymns "Precious Memories" and "God Hath Not Promised". At the graveside, "It Pays To Serve Jesus" was sung.

Precious Memories

Precious memories, unseen angels,
Sent from somewhere to my soul;
How they linger, ever near me,
And the sacred past unfold.

Precious memories, how they linger,
How they ever flood my soul;
In the stillness of the midnight,
Precious, sacred scenes unfold.

Precious father, loving mother,
Fly across the lonely years;
And old home-scenes of my childhood,
In fond memory appear.

In the stillness of the midnight,
Echoes from the past I hear,
Old time singing, gladness bringing,
From that lovely land somewhere.

As I travel on life's pathway,
Know not what the years may hold;
As I ponder, hope grows fonder,
Precious memories flood my soul.

*********

God Hath Not Promised

God hath not promised skies always blue,
Flower strewn pathways all our lives through;
God hath not promised sun without rain,
Joy without sorrow, peace without pain.

But God hath promised strength for the day.
Rest for the labor, light for the way,
Grace for the trials, help from above,
Unfailing sympathy, undying love.

God hath not promised we shall not know
Toil and temptation, trouble and woe;
He hath not told us we shall not bear
Many a burden, many a care.

God hath not promised smooth roads and wide,
Swift, easy travel, needing no guide;
Never a mountain rocky and steep,
Never a river turbid and deep.

***********

This is the poem they picked for the funeral pamphlet.

Miss me, but let me go

When I come to the end of the road
And the sun has set for me
I want no rites in the gloom filled room
Why cry for a soul set free

Miss me a little-but not too long
And not with your head bowed low
Remember the love that we once shared
Miss me-but let me go

For this is a journey that we must all take
And each must go alone
It's all part of the Master's plan
A step on the road to home

When you are lonely, and sick of heart
Go to the friends we know
And bury your sorrows in doing good deeds
Miss me--but let me go

Anon