Wake and Funeral Arrangements

Here is the letter I have just mailed to people. I am hoping that everyone who wants to know what arrangements have been made for Ali's wake and funeral, will get to hear the details.
Please do copy it and send it on to people if you are able. I'm sure people wouldn't mind getting this letter more than once!



Dear friends

Here are words from a song written by our friend Doug, so much in my mind at the moment:

Gather, gather us in.
Gather, gather us in
Christ like a shepherd, call your sheep,
Into the house where the frightened can sleep,
Into the place where the weary can rest,
Into the home, where you welcome the lost,
Jesus our saviour we pray
Jesus our saviour we pray

Ali went home on Wednesday morning April 4th. Gathered in.

I sat with Ali's Mum Ann, and twin sister Sue, as her breathing slowed and her pulse weakened over two hours until dawn. We had sung together, prayed Compline, listened to songs from Binham priory.

It was a death, but at some points it was like waiting for a birth. We were waiting for something to happen which was so beyond our ability to control. There was a sense of wonder as we witnessed this.

Beautiful Ali.

Our four-year-old daughter Asha was sitting on a log last Saturday - in the middle of Epping forest, having her photo taken. She asked "can you put this photo in mummy's coffin and can we ask Jesus to show it to her when the coffin gets to heaven?"

Kirin, our two year old son, simply says - "mummy sleeping".

Ali wanted as many as possible of her friends and family to be together at her funeral service, which will be on Friday April 13th at 3pm.

She also wanted her body to be seen one last time by any who wished. This will be possible on Thursday April 12th between 4pm and 11pm at our home.

See below for more details

Thank you for all your many messages of support, including those posted on our blog.

With all our love

Chris, Asha, Kirin



Here are more details:

On Thursday 12th April from 4pm -11pm at 33 Powerscroft Road E5, there will be a wake.

We invite anyone who wishes, to gather round her open coffin at our home - there will be songs, prayers, readings. It will be mostly unstructured, improvised. We may mark each passing hour. Please come for a few minutes or longer. Hopefully everyone will be able to feel included, and not have too much difficulty in finding a seat (or standing room!) without waiting too long. There will be an opportunity to talk and have light refreshments just opposite on the other side of the road at 16 Powerscroft Road throughout this time.

The body will leave our home on the morning of Friday April 13th, to be taken for cremation with a private service of committal, attended by family members.

On Friday 13th April at 3pm at the Round Chapel (corner of Powerscroft and Lower Clapton Road) there will be a funeral service.

We expect the service to last just over an hour. It will be followed by refreshments at the Round Chapel Old School Rooms. We hope very much that you will be able to stay for this.

We are creating “a book about Mummy” for Asha and Kirin to place in a memory box. If you would like to, then please write down a message or memorable anecdote (single sided - so we can stick it into the book) and bring it on April 13th, or email me chrisandali@ukonline.co.uk . You may want to give us a photo to include of you and Ali or something related to what you have written.

DONATIONS

Please do not send flowers. However Ali said she would very much like people to donate money – cheques payable to “Clapton Park United Reformed Church” - and sent to Ron Hasler, CPURC Treasurer, 12 Woodland Close, Woodford Green, Essex, IG8 OQH. Please write "Ali" on the back of the envelope. He will then allocate all gifts equally between two charities:

WaterAid http://www.wateraid.org.uk

Armonia UK Trust http://armoniauk.blogspot.com
http://www.armoniamexico.net

Why these charities ?

WaterAid – because Ali wanted to draw attention to the way that we could all make a difference to many, many people’s life chances by the most basic response – helping to provide clean water.

Armonia - because Ali had been involved in this charity and its work since 1990, visiting Mexico City several times and passionate about the way this project brings together Christian faith and hope, in action with and for the poor.