Eulogies and Obituaries
Hi
I've become quite fascinated in recent years with obituaries whether I knew the person or not. If that sounds morbid, it's not. It's really an opportunity for the writer to essentially write a critique of a person and his/her life. As long as there's nothing slanderous, I don't think there are any real limitations on what's written and published unless one takes the difference between good and bad taste into account.
It's like a eulogy at a funeral. I had never heard a Eulogy until one of my grand-aunts died and on an unseasonably hot April day in Kinsale in 1976, I sat in the Methodist Church and really wondered if, somehow or other, I was at the wrong funeral. I remember taking a quick look at the congregation and, no, there was my family, Auntie Mabel's family, friends and relations. Then I wondered if the speaker could have been at the wrong funeral. In fact that's the conclusion I've reached and maintained in the intervening years. The eulogy bore no relation to the person we knew, loved and mourned.
Obituaries are more considered affairs and take a while to write. Many are written I'm sure while the person is living here on Earth so with a click of a button, the file can then be downloaded and published.
In the past few days, I've been considering one of my food heroes, Veronica Steele. She is credited with the renaissance of Irish artisan production and in particular farmhouse cheese through the iconic brand, Milleens. She and her husband, Norman, forged a path that so many of us have followed without ever questioning who started it all. However it's in the way that she dealt with her illness, Multiple System Atrophy, that she assumed hero status for me. Yes, it impeded in her life over quite a few years now, but to meet her, listen to her, consider her words, the illness was never at the forefront. Her courage, bolstered no doubt by Norman and her wonderful famly, was undoubted; the things she did after diagnosis including her travels should be an inspiration to all. These she shared through her Facebook page and many's a time, I took a look at it when things threatened to overwhelm me.
If you keep an eye out, you'll be reading about Veronica Steele in many an obituary. Unfortunately, as you know, I had flu and it really wouldn't have been a wise decision to head off to Castletownbere yesterday evening to the visitation. I would have loved to have been there as I'm sure it was quite the occasion and one she would have enjoyed although listening to all the fulsome praise and eulogising would quite possible have made her squirm. Her skills were many but it's in how she moved through life and the impression she left on so many people is where her real influence will be felt.
Ar Dheis De Go Raibh A hAnam.
I've become quite fascinated in recent years with obituaries whether I knew the person or not. If that sounds morbid, it's not. It's really an opportunity for the writer to essentially write a critique of a person and his/her life. As long as there's nothing slanderous, I don't think there are any real limitations on what's written and published unless one takes the difference between good and bad taste into account.
It's like a eulogy at a funeral. I had never heard a Eulogy until one of my grand-aunts died and on an unseasonably hot April day in Kinsale in 1976, I sat in the Methodist Church and really wondered if, somehow or other, I was at the wrong funeral. I remember taking a quick look at the congregation and, no, there was my family, Auntie Mabel's family, friends and relations. Then I wondered if the speaker could have been at the wrong funeral. In fact that's the conclusion I've reached and maintained in the intervening years. The eulogy bore no relation to the person we knew, loved and mourned.
Obituaries are more considered affairs and take a while to write. Many are written I'm sure while the person is living here on Earth so with a click of a button, the file can then be downloaded and published.
In the past few days, I've been considering one of my food heroes, Veronica Steele. She is credited with the renaissance of Irish artisan production and in particular farmhouse cheese through the iconic brand, Milleens. She and her husband, Norman, forged a path that so many of us have followed without ever questioning who started it all. However it's in the way that she dealt with her illness, Multiple System Atrophy, that she assumed hero status for me. Yes, it impeded in her life over quite a few years now, but to meet her, listen to her, consider her words, the illness was never at the forefront. Her courage, bolstered no doubt by Norman and her wonderful famly, was undoubted; the things she did after diagnosis including her travels should be an inspiration to all. These she shared through her Facebook page and many's a time, I took a look at it when things threatened to overwhelm me.
If you keep an eye out, you'll be reading about Veronica Steele in many an obituary. Unfortunately, as you know, I had flu and it really wouldn't have been a wise decision to head off to Castletownbere yesterday evening to the visitation. I would have loved to have been there as I'm sure it was quite the occasion and one she would have enjoyed although listening to all the fulsome praise and eulogising would quite possible have made her squirm. Her skills were many but it's in how she moved through life and the impression she left on so many people is where her real influence will be felt.
Ar Dheis De Go Raibh A hAnam.
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