Eric Alexander Moore - The Final Farewell

Yesterday, at 4pm, at Grandma and Grandpa Moore's favourite spot overlooking the sea from the Shorncliffe Cliffs, we released Grandpa's ashes and said our final farewells. It was a shame that the weather wasn't very helpful, as it was quite wet and windy, but then again, maybe that was the heavens offering up a little tear too.

I was so honoured to be a part of this little informal ceremony as I hadn't been able to attend the funeral (except by skype). My sister Melissa did the little service, which was brief but poignant, and gave a little poem for me to read, thus enabling me to finally feel a part of the goodbyes and tributes to my lovely grandfather. It was just a lovely poem - here it is here for you to enjoy too:

Be Comforted My life is ended here at peace with the cliffs and the sea. The Lord has called me home and I am free to go peacefully. Don't mourn my passing as I am now in the presence of the Glory of God, His bright love is abundant and his promises are real. I will wait here for you dear ones in Jesus’ arms & watch over you with him until you also come home. Be comforted loved ones. "I shall go the way of the cliffs and the open sea,

To the Lands before you came,

And the cool ocean breezes shall blow from me,

The memory of your name."

The service was attended by just a few - all my Dad's brothers and wives, Grandma of course, my Grandpa's sister Beryl and her husband, plus us 3 girls and my sister's families, and Ray and Bess, Grandma and Grandpa's dear friends.

My brother in law Kevan prayed as my sister released the ashes, then we all threw rose petals into the wind and my father, his brothers, Aunty Beryl and Grandma released helium filled balloons as Kevan gave the traditional committal, which is I think something like this:

'We therefore commit his body to the ground; earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust; in the sure and certain hope of the Resurrection to eternal life.'

The bad bit (well, other than the fact we were saying goodbye) was, that during Kevan's prayers for the family, some hoons, or so we thought, started honking their horns to be disruptive. It got so bad that I turned around to give them my evil eyebrow - and discovered it was my 2 year old niece Marcella who, after having been unable to keep quiet, had been put in the car alongside her 1 year old cousin - and had discovered with great delight that by pushing the steering wheel, a wonderfully loud noise happens! Damien quickly rushed to stop her though, much to her disappointment.

Anyway, here are some pics of the occasion, which Aunty Meredith took:

Our little gathering at Grandma and Grandpa's "spot"

Mel reads some thoughts

Me reading the poem "Be Comforted"

The release

Erik Alexander Moore - Rest In Peace