Service For
Kathleen Alice Brooks
Thursday 29 December 2016
Colchester Crematorium
at 2.00 pm
Entry Music: ‘Moonlight Serenade’ by Glenn Miller
Introduction and Welcome
(Please be seated)
We are here today to pay our respects, to remember and to say our last farewells to a really lovely lady; that lady is Kathleen Alice Brooks.
This is, of course a very sad day, but there may be some small comfort in it too; for although a funeral ceremony is a leave taking, it is more than that—we are hoping that this ceremony today will be a celebration of Kathleen’s life and her personality.
Many years ago a philosopher, by the name of Bertrand Russell, described the living of a life quite beautifully when he wrote this.
“An individual life should be like a river; small at first; and narrowly contained within its banks, rushing passionately past boulders and over waterfalls.
Gradually the river grows wider, the banks recede and the waters flow more quietly and in the end, without any visible break they become merged in the sea and then move on into a greater unknown ocean.”
And the man or woman who can see his or her life in this way will not suffer from the fear of death, since the things that make us what we are, our love our energy or spirit will go on.
The final parting signified by death is bound to cause grief and so it is natural that there is a great sadness here today, but the expression of this grief is something that you should not be embarrassed or ashamed about, because it shows love and it shows that you care.
I would now like to read a Poem for Kathleen
Poem: Remember Me
“To the living I am gone.
To the sorrowful, I will never return.
But to the happy, I am at peace.
And to the faithful, I have never left.
I cannot speak, but I can listen.
I cannot be seen, but I can be heard.
So as you stand upon the shore,
Gazing at the vast, beautiful sea, remember me.
As you look at the majesty of a clear night sky
Remember me.
Remember me in your thoughts and in your hearts.
Of the times we loved, the times we cried and the times we laughed.
For if you always think of me
I will always be here.”
Will you now please stand, if you are able, for our Hymn today: ‘All things Bright and Beautiful’, the words of which you will find in your service sheets.
Hymn: All things Bright and Beautiful
Would you please remain standing, if you are able, for the Lord’s Prayer…..and join me in saying….
The Lord’s Prayer
“Our Father who art in heaven Hallowed be thy name
Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven
Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us
And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil
For thine is the kingdom the power and the glory forever and ever
Amen.
(Please be seated)
Eulogy
Kathleen came into the world on the 15 September 1920 in Cheshunt Hertfordshire, to her parents William Thomas Christian and Edith Agnes Amelia Pledger. She
was the sixth one of no less than 16 children,
8 brothers and 8 sisters. Fortunately they lived in quite a large house in Rose Crescent.
After completing her education locally; she eventually left home at the age of 19. It was by then the beginning of World War 2 and Kathleen joined the Army to help the cause; she served most of her time overseas, at first stopping off in Capetown, South Africa, and then finally arriving in Alexandria in Egypt, where her unit was stationed for several years.
There are memories of the Egyptians swimming in the seas around their ship and they would call out to our soldiers to ask ‘give me a Liverpool Sixpence’ at which Kathleen and her buddies would wrap up a farthing and throw it into the sea, and watch the Egyptians as they dived deep to retrieve their catch! Folklore has it that the term ‘Liverpool Sixpence’ came originally from the Scousers wrapping a farthings in tin foil so that they resembled proper sixpenny pieces!
Kathleen’s stop in South Africa enabled her to visit Table Mountain and other South African areas before continuing her journey to Alexandria Egypt where was she stationed for most of the war.
Kathleen returned home at the end of the war to resume her life; in fact to start a new one, and it was not too long before her children started to appear in the world.
On the 9 August 1946 her son Ronnie was the first to arrive; followed by Margaret on the 3 October 1947; and by the 13 June 1955 her family was complete when her second daughter, Yvonne was born.
The family lived in Montgomery Close in Barn Hall; this as the name suggests was a Close that was made up of around 20 houses and it was a really close knit community in those days. It was however quite near to open countryside and many was the occasion that Kathleen had to go out searching for her children as they often made a habit of wandering off for hours!
Ronnie remembers that they were the only local family in the Close to own a television at that time; they had acquired theirs in 1953 and it certainly made them very popular; but the downside to this was they suddenly seemed to have so many ‘friends’ and watching the Cup Final between Blackpool and Bolton in ‘Black and White’ alongside people he never even knew was quite strange!
Kathleen worked hard to put money on the table doing various different jobs; but after applying for a job with the Coop, a stroke of good fortune in the shape of a Mr Nuttall (who interviewed her for the job) and decided to give her a chance; meant Kathleen working in the Pharmacy in town. This she did and enjoyed for a further 32 years and became the Pharmacy Manager and became really well known to many people in the Colchester town centre.
Kathleen’s family began to expand over the years; Daughter Margaret met and subsequently married Michael Tyler in 1967 and they produced Kathleen’s 1st Granddaughter by the name of Gemma in 1971.
Ronnie met and married Christine in 1969 and they had Katie in 1972.
Yvonne (not to be left out) met and married Ivor during 1973 and they produced 2 children by the names of Andrew and Carly.
Many years later Ronnie became a father for the 2nd time when he and Pauline had Chloe in 1992.
This meant 5 Grandchildren for Kathleen to love; and love them she did, spending a great deal of quality time with all of them.
And the good news did not stop there, to date there are 4 Great grandchildren on the scene; they are Millie, Lois, Joshua (with a new brother on the way) and Georgia…..and these lovely young people will ensure Kathleen’s legacy in this world!
Kathleen then moved to No. 10 Ladbrook Drive when she was reaching the age of 60; and she seemed to enter the most happy and settled phase of her life. She would regularly hold gatherings and parties in her flat there; celebrating her family’s notable dates like birthdays and Christmas by catering for them all; she actually held around a dozen or more gatherings a year and these were legendary, and it was something she just loved to do.
Kathleen was a Classy lady; she was well turned out and smart; but above all she was a very amiable and welcoming person; she was always grateful and thankful to people for any kindnesses at all with plenty of hugs and kisses to show her loving character.
Kathleen Brooks you have a lived a long and a good life; and one that was well worth living; God Bless!
I would now like to invite Ronnie to come forward with his own personal tribute to his dear Mother.
Tribute by Ronnie
We would now like to play some music for you, during which you may be able to reflect on your thoughts of
Kathleen and perhaps the times you spent in her company; this is the Theme music from the film ‘Dances with Wolves’
Music for Reflection: ‘Dances with Wolves’ by John Barry
“The tide recedes,
but leaves behind bright seashells on the sand.
The sun goes down.
But its gentle warmth still lingers on the land.
The music stops.
And yet it echoes on in sweet refrains.
For every joy that passes something beautiful remains”
And now some words put together by Kathleen’s grandchildren
I would now like to invite Gemma and Carly to come forward on behalf of their Mum’s,Margaret and Yvonne.
They would like me to relay some words written by the Gemma, Carly and Andrew who is in New Zealand
I would now like to read a further Poem for Kathleen entitled ‘Feel no guilt in laughter’
Poem: Feel no guilt in laughter
Feel no guilt in laughter; she’d know how much you care.
Feel no sorrow in a smile that she’s not here to share.
You cannot grieve forever; she would not want you to.
She’d hope that you could carry on the way you always do.
So, talk about the good times and the way you showed you cared.
The days you spent together, all the happiness you shared.
Let memories surround you, a word someone may say
will suddenly recapture a time, an hour, a day.
That brings her back as clearly as though she were still here;
and fills you with the feeling that she is always near.
For if you keep those moments; you will never be apart.
And she will live forever locked safely in your heart
Kathleen’s family would like to sincerely thank you all for attending today and joining with them in this service and to say goodbye.
The family’s chosen charity today is Alzheimer’s UK; and any contributions will be gratefully accepted; there will be a collection box for this purpose as you leave the chapel
Will you now please stand, if you are able, for the Committal part of the service
Music: WATERMARK by Enya on Committal setting
Committal
So, for as much as it has pleased you all to have known or loved Kathleen, we must now commit her earthly body to be cremated in the sure and certain knowledge that she will be remembered forever.
Kathleen it matters to have trodden the earth proudly, not arrogantly and on feet that were not afraid to stand their ground.
It matters that you have been brave when retreat would have been easier.
It matters that in many places and at many times, you have made a difference.
Your smile has mattered.
Your laugh has mattered.
Your friendship has mattered.
Your love has mattered.
But most importantly and above all else; it matters that you have been loved.
Nothing else matters.
Curtains to remain open
Hold on to Kathleen in your thoughts and in your hearts.
There is no need to part from her too hastily.
From time to time think about things she would say, about what she liked doing and what you did in her company.
Enjoy your memories of her, just as you have today.
Our lives will be a much smaller place because Kathleen is no longer in it, but it is most certainly a much better place because she has lived.
Kathleen we grant you rest. May you and your loved ones, be forever blessed with peace and understanding and may you continue on your own journey in gentleness and joy.
End music – Watermark by Enya
(Please be seated)
Ladies and gentlemen, that concludes our service; we would now like to play some further music for you; before you leave the Chapel. This is entitled: ‘We’ll meet again’ and it’s by Vera Lynn
Exit Music: ‘We’ll meet again’ by Vera Lynn