Cathy's life celebration farewell, including poems.First I would like to give my condolences to Pam and Jan and their husbands and thank them for their hard work in making this celebration possible. I would like to give my condolences to the five grandchildren 4 of whom are hear today, Kate, Ellie, Reg and Jack and to Ross who is in Ireland studying. Cathy was very proud of her grandchildren and their achievements in college and work. Also, my heart goes out to Cathy's siblings: Peter, Michael, Ed, Jim, Hugh, Terry and her sisters Vicky, Margaret and Sallee. I left Sallee to the last to thank her for the phone support to Cathy every day throughout Cathy's illness. And finally to all the relatives and who I can't list because I only have five minutes time, and Reg and Flo. (Cathy's former husband and his wife).Cathy and I had a very emotional relationship that was based on poetry. Actually it was the lack of poetry that got her emotionally fired up. Soon after we met she spotted a framed poem in my hallway titled, "What's a Rose without some Prose?" "When are you going to write a poem like that for me?" she would often lament. "Poetry doesn't just come mechanically" I would say, "It takes time to prime the emotional well-spring deep down inside the soul, then as it begins to fill, there is a trickle and eventually it bursts forth and begins roar and flow like a torrent, unceasing." "You can talk your way out of anything!" That was one of her favorite expressions. I would fire back. "It's hard to write poetry about a person and the joy they get from brushing their teeth!" And so it began. Over the past four years the poetry did begin to flow, just in time for her 75 th birthday party, which some of you attended. Today I will read the slightly revised version. I changed the titles to reflect Cathy's boundless energy, vitality, those long legs previously mentioned, her gracefulness, and excitement about everything... Cathy reminded me of a thoroughbred filly, so I named the poem, "Lansdownes Answer to Northen Dancer" or if you like the shorter title, "Hot to Trot." "Hot to Trot" To music from B.G.'s "Staying Alive." Well, you can tell by the way she uses her walk That this lady can do much more than talk Lansdowne born, but out of there fast This gals set on a lifetime blast. Gananoque was next, but way to slow It's the big lights where she wanted to go So, Kingston bound with husband at heel It the beat of the music she wants to feel A couple of kids, Pam and Jan Lots of shopping to make them glam Trips with friends to sunny climes Keep making the money and save them dimes Making dresses and doing the chores A good twenty years but a bit of a bore A change of pace was in the works This lady's going meet some jerks Two jobs and a chic new condo Lots more travel but no one to bond to So, put on the lipstick and a nice pretty dress Hit Shirley's dance floor with some real finesse Now life's going somewhere kinda nice Lot of friends and fun in the condo life And then, right there, out of the blue Along comes Fred, "Well how do you do?" So, here we are just'a looking back It all went so fast-just clickety clack, Today, family and friends have come to celebrate One of the finest ever out of the gate, our Cathy ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The next poem, "Touched" gives tribute to Cathy's influence on anything and everything she put her mind to. Cathy was a master project manager. I was a project. "Touched" She gave me cookies, I thought I was special. She gave everyone she liked cookies. She dressed up for me on dance nights She dressed up for every dance night with or without Me. She planned trips with me to exotic places She went to them with her friends. She told me I had nice clothes, She showed me how to buy better ones She said I had a nice garden, It would look nicer with the right flowers. Slowly but surely she crept into my life, not like a thief in the night But like a fast moving glacier, touching everything ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Next, there was the poem written during her valiant battle with cancer, named "Love's Foundations." I shall just read you the last two lines. I quoted them to Cathy everyday I saw her. The first line attests that she did have a huge influence on me, I had been listening. We would hold hands: I would say: "You have given me a path to follow." Cathy would smile, knowingly. When I quoted the last line she would squeeze my hands ever so, ever so tightly: "From me draw strength in time of need." At first, at Humber River hospital we thought the strength would be for her healing from her operation. In the last weeks at home and in St. Mary's it would be strength for the final journey she knew she would be embarking on. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- And now she is in the next dimension I have a little poem for her-remember her strong influence wherever she goes? Cathy loved to brush her teeth She liked to make them sparkle Hark the herald angels sing Gargle, gargle, gargle. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- And a recent poem, written since Cathy passed away-I've called it "Cathy's Touch." I will just read the last half of the poem (which is in bold) in the interest of saving time. (I have printed the full poem here). "Cathy's Touch" How can life just go on? Doesn't the universe know that we're hurting? Someone we loved just passed away And other people are flirting What sense does it make to risk your soul? To know it can be ripped apart Why open the door to let someone in To end up with a broken heart? I'll tell you what I learned from my pain That it's not about me, me and me It's about what you can do To make someone else be happy That what Cathy did every day Reached out and touched a soul She never tired of giving of herself Her gifts, her touch made people whole When she knew of her body's mess I asked what she was thinking She said of all the people in her life And how they had made her happy They didn't know how treasured they were How much they touched her heart She found the good in everyone And a caring friendship would start So don't define why people make you mad Ask why they give you happiness And then in turn, let them know Why in your life they are a blessing Please add this to your approach Make it part of daily living You'll add meaning to Cathy's life A legacy of unselfish giving Fred, After ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- And TODAY, when I go home there will be a new framed poem hanging in my hallway, and it will contain the short poem that I wrote in the last few days of Cathy's life, which we all could have written. "I will miss you today, But I will love you forever." Thank you. End of my "Farewell to Cathy speech." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- October 8, 2016 Today is the day after the beautiful funeral service at Our Lady of Lourdes church with thanks to Father Brennan for his thoughtful and evocative summary of Cathy's strong faith and the support it provided her. Everyone tells me time will help. I find writing helps. "Untitled, Unbridled Sadness" My mind is in disarray today The love of my has life passed away Not today but a week or more The agony feels so deep and sore. The tears that often come and go On a whim they start to flow A thought of what might have been Is all it takes to start a stream Should I rail against the gods Or rant and rave to any bod. Who will take the time to listen? To make the wet cheeks simply glisten So dear reader, it shall be you Who in your kindness without to do Took the time to read this piece And with that kindness bring me peace. Fred, After |