on the morning of sunday the 17th of november grandad passed away peacefully in Blackrock hospice in ireland. he wasn't even in there a week but it was his time to go. there is great comfort for us knowing that natalie (jacks sister was by his side when he passed) it feels like part of us was there too.
sunday evening we drove down to wales for the night before getting the ferry over to dublin on monday morning. the ferry was an easier way for us to travel so we could be mobile with the car and so we didn't have to rely on public transport. aunty pauline and uncle jim took us all in to stay with them - theres nothing better than being close to family at a such an upsetting time.
the next two days were full of funeral arrangements and seeing family. it was a strange time for all of us but it was like grandad hadn't really left. what i mean by that is when we all went out for dinner he wasn't at the table with us, i just imagined him sitting up at the bar with a large whiskey and he'd come and join us when he's ready.
the days just rolled into one and we were all exhausted, physically, mentally and emotionally. our evenings were spent looking at old pictures of grandad and the family and talking about our most cherished memories of him which will never leave us.
we went to see grandad at the chapel, he looked dapper as always in his suit but it was hard knowing that he wasn't just sleeping and he wouldn't wake up no matter how much we begged him to!
thursday 21st november - our final goodbyes had to be said. as odd as it sounds it was the most beautiful funeral i had ever been to; i say that on behalf of everybody who was there. we couldn't have wished for a nicer service - a beautiful send off for a beautiful man. i've only ever been to two funerals but irish funerals seem so much more intimate and religious. i'm not religious in any way and i didn't understand a lot of what was going on but everything was perfect. the church was packed and there wasn't a dry eye in there! jack, brent and ian had the honour of carrying grandads coffin in and out of the church, after jack breaking his toe the day before the funeral i was so proud of him for fighting through the pain and doing his grandad proud! after the funeral we headed to the graveyard to lay grandad in his final resting place. it couldn't have been a nicer spot, the planes flew straight over which he would have loved as he worked for british airways for many years, it also means we can wave to him on our way in!
thursday 21st november - our final goodbyes had to be said. as odd as it sounds it was the most beautiful funeral i had ever been to; i say that on behalf of everybody who was there. we couldn't have wished for a nicer service - a beautiful send off for a beautiful man. i've only ever been to two funerals but irish funerals seem so much more intimate and religious. i'm not religious in any way and i didn't understand a lot of what was going on but everything was perfect. the church was packed and there wasn't a dry eye in there! jack, brent and ian had the honour of carrying grandads coffin in and out of the church, after jack breaking his toe the day before the funeral i was so proud of him for fighting through the pain and doing his grandad proud! after the funeral we headed to the graveyard to lay grandad in his final resting place. it couldn't have been a nicer spot, the planes flew straight over which he would have loved as he worked for british airways for many years, it also means we can wave to him on our way in!
its a huge understatement when i say he will be sorely missed by everyone who ever came into contact with him. he played such a huge part in everyones lives, it's gutting to know our child will never meet him. grandad will always have a part of his great grandchild with him as we put one of the scan pictures in his coffin. our first born son will have Christopher (grandads name) as their middle name and we will make sure they know how special he really was. almost three weeks on and i don't think any of us can really come to terms with the fact he's really gone. forever in our hearts you beautiful man, memories last forever.
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