RIP Kem
It's been a long tiring 9 days. On 8th October, peacefully, but suddenly, my step-father died in his sleep. What follows is my recount of the last 9 days since then.
5:30pm 8th Oct: Mum rings with the sad news. She has gathered her Ch-Ch based children around her. It is Saturday night 8:30 over there, and a big game of local rugby was underway, so my brother needed to be driven over to mum's by his mate Mark. Paddy chats to me, assuring me that mum is OK, but a bit dazed (understandably) Tententive plans are made for me to come over as soon as possible. It was too early to say when the funeral would be. Kem's son and daughter were holidaying on the Gold Coast so it will be later in the following week to allow for travel plans to be sorted.
The next couple of days are a bit of a blur for everyone. By Tuesday, Paddy's travel agent had sorted out my trip and the funeral was set for Fri @ 11:30am.
Wednesday was Casey's 15th birthday and Dee and I were lucky enough to be able to give her an iPod nano, after saying they were too small. That evening, we caught up with Nathaniel and had a family tea out at the Bridge Hotel
Thursday morning had me up at 5:00am to catch a plane over to NZ. Paddy, Mum, Deb and Kate were all at the airport to meet me. I was very touched. We went around to the funeral home to see Kem's body. He looked very peaceful, apprently just as he was when he died.
After the viewing, we headed over to Mum's where we caught up with mum's yougest sister, Carol. Then on to Paddy's for tea and drinks. Kate turned up, with her son Hayden, and Deb and Pete showed up a bit later. By 9:30 NZ time I hit the wall, but before I fell asleep I made a feew notes about our time with Kem, because I was asked to speak on Mum's behalf, which was a great honour for me.
Friday was F-Day. We sorted out the transport arrangements amongest the 3 or 4 cars available and set off for the Crematorium. We made sure we arrived in plenty of time. PEople started to arrive and I was pleased to see Uncle Ned and Sarah, Uncle Earl and Auntie Bernadette, and many other people who turned up to show their respects to Kem.
In all, I think about 170 people were in the chapel.
Along with Paddy, Paul and Wayne, and Rick and Jim from Lions, I was a pallbearer for Kem. It was when the Lions formed a guard of honour and placed little black Lion patches on the coffin as we carried him in that I started to choke up a bit.
The celebrant was very upbeat and he helped a few people during the funeral. Kem's son Paul and daughter Julie spoke first, telling stories of times I did not know Kem, fishing and travelling to holiday destinations, and gardening.
I spoke of the times we spent with Kem. I didn't do it justice and I would like to redo it, but that moment has now past.
Many other people also spoke on his behalf. He had added to many peoples lives.
One person mentioned how mportant it was to do something useful with your dash. I agreed. See the Dash below.
In the evening, we celebrated Kem's life by having a few drinks at the New Brighton Working Men's Club, and watching Otago beat Canterbury in a semi-final match.
RIP Kem 29 August 1930 -dash- 8 October 2005
5:30pm 8th Oct: Mum rings with the sad news. She has gathered her Ch-Ch based children around her. It is Saturday night 8:30 over there, and a big game of local rugby was underway, so my brother needed to be driven over to mum's by his mate Mark. Paddy chats to me, assuring me that mum is OK, but a bit dazed (understandably) Tententive plans are made for me to come over as soon as possible. It was too early to say when the funeral would be. Kem's son and daughter were holidaying on the Gold Coast so it will be later in the following week to allow for travel plans to be sorted.
The next couple of days are a bit of a blur for everyone. By Tuesday, Paddy's travel agent had sorted out my trip and the funeral was set for Fri @ 11:30am.
Wednesday was Casey's 15th birthday and Dee and I were lucky enough to be able to give her an iPod nano, after saying they were too small. That evening, we caught up with Nathaniel and had a family tea out at the Bridge Hotel
Thursday morning had me up at 5:00am to catch a plane over to NZ. Paddy, Mum, Deb and Kate were all at the airport to meet me. I was very touched. We went around to the funeral home to see Kem's body. He looked very peaceful, apprently just as he was when he died.
After the viewing, we headed over to Mum's where we caught up with mum's yougest sister, Carol. Then on to Paddy's for tea and drinks. Kate turned up, with her son Hayden, and Deb and Pete showed up a bit later. By 9:30 NZ time I hit the wall, but before I fell asleep I made a feew notes about our time with Kem, because I was asked to speak on Mum's behalf, which was a great honour for me.
Friday was F-Day. We sorted out the transport arrangements amongest the 3 or 4 cars available and set off for the Crematorium. We made sure we arrived in plenty of time. PEople started to arrive and I was pleased to see Uncle Ned and Sarah, Uncle Earl and Auntie Bernadette, and many other people who turned up to show their respects to Kem.
In all, I think about 170 people were in the chapel.
Along with Paddy, Paul and Wayne, and Rick and Jim from Lions, I was a pallbearer for Kem. It was when the Lions formed a guard of honour and placed little black Lion patches on the coffin as we carried him in that I started to choke up a bit.
The celebrant was very upbeat and he helped a few people during the funeral. Kem's son Paul and daughter Julie spoke first, telling stories of times I did not know Kem, fishing and travelling to holiday destinations, and gardening.
I spoke of the times we spent with Kem. I didn't do it justice and I would like to redo it, but that moment has now past.
Many other people also spoke on his behalf. He had added to many peoples lives.
One person mentioned how mportant it was to do something useful with your dash. I agreed. See the Dash below.
In the evening, we celebrated Kem's life by having a few drinks at the New Brighton Working Men's Club, and watching Otago beat Canterbury in a semi-final match.
RIP Kem 29 August 1930 -dash- 8 October 2005
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