The Last Journey

We had a funeral in our road today, well, just around the corner.
The old lady was 80 and she and her husband celebrated their Diamond Wedding anniversary this year. The family had a big party planned, but COVID ruined that.

We know the couple pretty well, and have seen the family on occasion, obviously more so these past few weeks as they have been taking it in turns to stay with their Dad overnight when their Mum was taken into hospital. Their dog is Maggie’s boyfriend as she is the only one he doesn’t bark at.

I was walking Maggie home from our field trip and came back through our estate. If I’d gone straight home, I would not have been able to pay my last respects.
Her coffin was white wickerwork, and adorned with just two floral tributes.
Their daughters saw me before they got into the limousine following the hearse giving me watery smiles as I offered my condolences. Her husband saw me too, and raised his hand in acknowledgement. Whenever we’d seen him working in the garden, we always asked after his wife. They were devoted to each other.

I was not the only resident to stand on the pavement, head down, with the wish for her to rest in peace. She will now be laid to rest, or her ashes scattered, with her brother and sister in law who died within weeks of each other last year.
One resident will see another friend take their final journey in the next few days.
They call this God’s Waiting Room, and He is calling his senior angels to join him.

Advertisement