Final Farewell

Yesterday, we said our fond farewells to a wonderful woman, mother, grandmother  great grandmother, and great great grandmother. Although a deeply religious person, she never tried to convert you to her way of thinking. Rather, Anne Zacharias lived her 96 years through example.

Friends and family, right down to those great great grandchildren, gathered at Winkler EMM Church, to say their final goodbyes. Some of her children gave eulogies and some grandchildren were pall bearers. We all, in our own way, paid our last respects to her.

A delightful end, at the cemetery, was the handing out of helium-filled balloons to the grandchildren as the casket was lowered. The balloons were released on cue, as we looked heavenward, feeling the symbolism of the act.

A reading by David Harkins, "She is Gone", seems appropriate.

"You can shed tears that she is gone
or you can smile because she has lived.

You can close your eyes and pray that she will come back
or you can open your eyes and see all she has left.

Your heart can be empty because you can't see her
or you can be full of the love you shared.

You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday
or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.

You can remember her and only that she's gone
or you can cherish her memory and let it live on.

You can cry and close your mind,
be empty and turn your back

or you can do what she would want:
smile, open your eyes, love and go on".