Our dear friend Liz

We've had a very sad thing happen in our lives: our dear friend and neighbor Liz DF died suddenly and unexpectedly on October 5th.  This was devastating for her husband Marc and two sons Max and Ollie.  The neighborhood has rallied to support them the past few weeks, and we went to their house on Tryfan's birthday for memorial drinks, but it is a very sad situation.  Today was her funeral, and it was held up at Danehill church and then she was buried in the cemetery across the lane from the church.  I was honoured to be asked to be one of the pall bearers, and carried Liz's coffin into the church along with Sharon, Lucy, Marc, Max and Ollie.  It was a deeply emotional and solemn event, and while I was able to do my pallbearing part, I cried the entire ceremony.  She was so loved and she leaves such a big void in her absence. It is heartbreakingly sad. 

This was the first funeral and burial that I have been to, and it was interesting and beautiful in a way.  There were so many people there, and as soon as she had been 'committed' (to the earth), the heavens opened and the rain started. We all walked in procession from the cemetery down to the Danehill Club for the wake, which would go on all afternoon and night, finishing around 10pm.

Here is Sharon, Anne Marie and me

And here is the scene later in the eve, with Max, Stanley, Marc, and James the ones visible.

There is no bright side at the moment, but it felt really good to mourn our friend and share memories of her. RIP dear Liz.