Sweethearts forever...

Ann 

Died: October 24, 2009

Wow - it has been almost a year to the day since I sang this funeral - time really flys.. but I remember

this one ...

A mother, wife, grandmother.  Tragic story but sweet… her husband john died 3 weeks before – In the business they call this a sweetheart death. The ceremony was lovely, I have to say the homily was so sincere and kind.. the thing that stuck with me was that the priest said that maybe John was sending annie a message  - when he said that he never liked to go out, that he liked her cooking gthe best.. well maybe that was a message, for her to come to him soon, because the food was terrible-

 

Well now, he can have her cookin….

A double header....

A double header?  I know, I know - "hey, we are not talking about baseball season here.. "  but in my world sometimes I do sing funerals back to back- hence  my affectionate title "double header."  Yeah, I know.. it is wrong.. but really - do you expect any less?

Irma

Born: 1940

Died: September 15, 2009

Irma – was very very involved with her church, heard she was the life of the party, she loved to have a few cocktails..(a woman after my own heart!)  Irma got sick, and was not getting better – but she said that she lived her life exactly how she wanted and she would not change a thing.. Wow.. that is impressive…I hope I can say the same

 - when I am 102 and living at the home.

The Second of the day -

September 15, 2009

  

Mercedes, 92 years young – What a full life, not alot of people were there -
(at 92 - really who is left? Hey that is what my great aunt says..and she is 94)but you could tell that the people that were there were very close to her and really loved her.

This funeral was spoken and sung half in Spanish and half in English, in my many years, I don’t remember doing one quite like this. Usually I would sing one song in Spanish - but this was truly an bilingual mass. I found it very beautiful  and left me wanting to learn the masses in Spanish.  The gentleman that accompanied me that day left me a hymnal that was bilingual. Sweet.

Some of the funeral songs I sang were

Ave Maria  - in Latin - of course...

On eagles wings,

Shepard me, oh G-d

Mass parts were in Spanish and English

Now some behind the scenes: The Priest that presided that day was doing well - LOL - As some of you know, when one has a funeral in the Catholic Church, the Priest is supposed to wear white vestments.  Well - He was chatting so much prior to the service, that he put on green vestments (ones that you would wear on a normal Sunday Service)  and forgot put on the white vestments. So he processes down the aisle, gets to the alter, left the alter, went and changed - (Yes, we kept playing/singing) He then explained to the congregation that it was a ritual to where the white vestments - But he made it seem that it was a ritual to change the vestments from green to white. He was so smooth.
Very smooth… jpw..very.. very smooth.

 I love my job!  LOL

It was a short service, but a very intimate one.  I am glad I was apart of her sending. 

Behind the scenes

I was going to wait - but I just can't.. today we are talking about 'behind the scenes' -As everyone knows, there is a lot of preparation when it comes to a funeral - Of course there is the coordination of the funeral home and the church or other house of worship and music and flowers, etc...

So I walk in to the church this morning to sing this funeral of a very affluent real estate realtor and developer - walked through the back door into the sacristy and there before my eyes are two people... Ted, my organist - and Father Roger, a priest that used to be in Bergen County but now lives "down Shore", yes, I mean the Jersey Shore and I don't think he knows "the situation".  The thing about Father Roger is that  he is a very nice man,  but as a retired priest, he does not celebrate masses very often. He is a bit quirky (aren't we all)  but here is the clincher  -  he is so lively when you talk to him.. but the minute he gets into mass, he talks in slow motion - seriously.. oh man... I knew this was going to be a long one..

As I said..  I walk in .. and look at Ted - and he looks at me.. and we roll our eyes.. because we know, this is going tobe a long one.. really long.. sometimes, when Father gives his homily, he starts to name all the family members..and that takes at least five minutes.. at this point of the service, my organist, Ted, is bitchin and moaning that we are never going to get out of there!  I really need to do a whole entry just on Ted.. it is so worth it.. But in regards to day to day funerals - I have to say it is very interesting to be on the other side of the equation.. what a business it is.. we really do feel bad for the families, but as church musicians - our job is to play/sing well and leave. 

But I am sidetracking..  the service continues, and we find that the deceased was a very cool guy..His sons each gave words of remembrance  - In 1990, he gained worldwide notoriety when he offered a $25,000 reward to charity if anyone saw him eating in a restaurant during the course of a year - or if he reduced his weight during that year.. They talked of his goodness, how funny he was.. how he liked to go to the local coffee shop..we heard the congregation laughing which is a great way to remember those who have left us here on earth.

The back drop of a funeral and some of the things people say crack me up.. Ted says to me - under his breath,  "look at that funeral director.. she looks as though she is going shopping at  Macy's".. She came back to the sacristy, I really thought she was a family member - but then she started talking saying that the family had seated themselves and we are ready to go.  Once again, Ted rolls his eyes -

 Ted has something to say about everything.. and he should .. he has been in the church business for at least 30 years...he is one of the funniest, sarcastic, brilliant players I know.  Boy can play anything, can change keys in a heartbeat.. nothing really phases him. This is why I love him so.. he hustles, he taught me to hustle (not the dance, thank God).. makes sure we get paid, on time - etc... Ted really has taught me alot of about the church business - and I thank him for that..

But as they left the church after the final hymn.. Ted turns to me and says.."Thank God that one is over "-

OY-

M