June 19, 2022, A Final Farewell

Louise looked down upon St. James United Church and smiled. Many of her friends and loved ones sat in the pews looking at her glowing face. 

That sure was a good picture. 

Her favourite songs rang through the air, and she could sense the beauty of the moment. There was a calmness about it all. Her dear friend stood in front of the people and described a wonderful person who they all were missing in their lives. The person being described sure sounded like her, but really she wasn’t that perfect – was she? She laughed, of course, she wasn’t. She knew that many people knew her flaws, but somehow her life shone through the moments of imperfection.

Somehow they were there to say goodbye.

Louise felt at peace, at least she got to say goodbye to so many of the wonderful people who had touched her life. Her final months were spent saying goodbye and tying up so many loose ends. 

Why did it have to end so soon?

There were so many things she still wanted to see, so much to do. But would any life be long enough? Her time was what it was. 

And the moments stretched on.

There was her adopted mom standing at the front of the room, singing. What courage it must have taken for her to do that. Betty-Rose learned to sing much later in life than most. Yet there she was in front of everyone singing her heart out.

Lousie could feel the love.

There was so much love in the room. How she wished she could touch everyone one more time. If only… but the world is filled with if only’s. All she could do was absorb the love, and feel the pain wash away.

Today was not the time for pain. It was a time to remember, to say goodbye.

Louise was thrilled she was able to give this one last gift to those who loved her. Her final tribute, her final act. All her life she wanted to be a musician, be a performer. In the end, she never made her living as a performer, but she knew that she succeeded in touching others with her gifts.

The rest didn’t matter.

She smiled when she saw her son reach out toward his wife and hold her hand when the song began to play for her. It was an even bigger joy to see him reach out to the lady beside him, the soulmate of the man who gave her so many gifts in life. Her children’s father also held her hand. Together, the four of them held hands while the song played. Louise reached out to them and held their hands as well.

It was a connection beyond time. She knew he could sense that she was there in the room with them.

The last song filled the church as her loved ones sat in silence. She saw her soulmate smile and she reached out to Jo one last time. It was a time for goodbye, for a final farewell.

Louise drifted away into the heavens, her life well lived, her soul at peace.

Goodbye Louise, you will be always with us.