A Father’s legacy

Performing funerals gives me a fresh view on how families prepare for a final ceremony of remembrance once someone dies. 

I’ve noted that a number of the deceased “wing it.”  Their immediate family or friends fly around the house trying to find something to give them a sense of who this person was.  That includes looking frantically for directions on what they would liked included in a funeral service – and what they would like to be remembered for.

My uncle Glen passed away recently and had prepared a little something for his wife and the kids in a book called – “A Father’s Legacy.”  The reminiscences he had placed in this workbook became a part of a color scheme for the service (he liked magenta), a service theme around his love of work (he did lots of chores as a young person), and some personal remembrances (the type that the family may have known but would have forgotten).

I went home from the funeral and ordered a used copy (I don’t think they are still in print).

That began what has been a two month journey (and more months to go!).  I’ve been writing out things like impressions of my mother, sports I enjoyed, friends I’ve had, school memories and much more.

I’m amazed how much I have stuffed at the back of my brain.  Sometimes it takes a few well placed questions to bring them to the forefront.  This book was a prompter – a way to write my memoirs while I can still remember them.

I suppose starting earlier in my life would have been helpful.  I have a lot of this information scattered around but the real joy of this book is bringing the information to one place.  For the sake of family and friends.  And for my own sake as I have headed into retirement and look back over my life.