It's been a busy few days

@JudyEv (325759)
Rockingham, Australia
May 30, 2020 6:51pm CST
We’ve had a busy few days as we hosted a wake for a friend on Friday. The couple had lived nearby until a few years ago. The wife became very sick soon after Christmas and passed away a week or so ago. She had wanted to be buried in the small country cemetery which is shown in the photo. The ti-tree there has been trimmed into varying shapes but it could hardly be called topiary in the real sense of the word. Although it drizzled through the committal, everyone had umbrellas so it the rain wasn’t a big deal. A chapel service had been held in Bunbury (Western Australia) before we all made our way out to the cemetery. We had twelve people stay overnight. We utilised our caravan and our friend’s mobile home. Two men slept on camp stretchers in the lounge. Some of the family hadn’t seen each other for some time so it was good that they were able to gather here and share memories. The last of the guests leave today and we’ll be back to ‘normal’.
31 people like this
28 responses
@DianneN (246720)
• United States
31 May 20
So sorry to hear that. At least you got to visit your friend a couple of weeks ago. May she RIP.
4 people like this
@DianneN (246720)
• United States
31 May 20
@JudyEv I thought that's who you were referring to.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (325759)
• Rockingham, Australia
31 May 20
Yes, we were very pleased to be able to see her when we did. Thanks.
2 people like this
@CarolDM (203454)
• Nashville, Tennessee
30 May 20
Busy busy, I know you will enjoy having things back to normal. Sorry for your loss.
4 people like this
@JudyEv (325759)
• Rockingham, Australia
31 May 20
Thanks. It was nice to be able to do this for our friend.
2 people like this
@snowy22315 (169940)
• United States
31 May 20
I am sure that whole thing was very hard.
3 people like this
@snowy22315 (169940)
• United States
31 May 20
@JudyEv That is good. I am sorry about your friend though..
2 people like this
@JudyEv (325759)
• Rockingham, Australia
31 May 20
The worry about the virus just added to the pressure but it all went to plan with no dramas so it's good.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (325759)
• Rockingham, Australia
1 Jun 20
@snowy22315 It happened very quickly. It hardly seems real.
2 people like this
@Deepizzaguy (94514)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
31 May 20
Sorry for the loss of life for your friend.
3 people like this
@JudyEv (325759)
• Rockingham, Australia
31 May 20
Thank you. It's very sad.
2 people like this
@Deepizzaguy (94514)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
1 Jun 20
@JudyEv You are welcome.
2 people like this
@andriaperry (116860)
• Anniston, Alabama
31 May 20
Here no burial are allowed, just cremations.. You ste good people!
3 people like this
@JudyEv (325759)
• Rockingham, Australia
31 May 20
Thank you. It was nice to be able to do this for John and his wife.
1 person likes this
@jayanth_77 (7180)
• India
31 May 20
Feel sorry for the loss of your friend. She lived a good and fruitful life. Sweet memories is what keeps us going.
3 people like this
@JudyEv (325759)
• Rockingham, Australia
31 May 20
Thanks. We have some great memories of fun times that we had with her.
2 people like this
@amirev777 (4117)
• India
31 May 20
It's always good to be busy....they say Idle Mind is Devil's Workshop.
2 people like this
@amirev777 (4117)
• India
31 May 20
@JudyEv My apologies...I quoted out of context. But my heart really bleeds for the husband. He must be missing his beloved very much. We, men, may appear tough externally, but internally we aren't half as tough as women - and don't ask me how I know it - I am a man too.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (325759)
• Rockingham, Australia
31 May 20
That is a very old saying, isn't it?
2 people like this
@JudyEv (325759)
• Rockingham, Australia
1 Jun 20
@amirev777 The husband had such a lot to organise and some of the family don't see a lot of each other or see eye to eye when they do meet so we were very pleased that the day went off as well as it did.
1 person likes this
@simone10 (54189)
• Louisville, Kentucky
1 Jun 20
I'm so sorry for the loss of your friend. 12 people area lot to stay overnight.
2 people like this
@simone10 (54189)
• Louisville, Kentucky
7 Jun 20
@JudyEv I'm sure it was a lot of work and you had to be so tired afterwards.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325759)
• Rockingham, Australia
1 Jun 20
Thanks. Yes, it is a lot really. As well as the wake, we had to provide an evening meal then breakfast next morning. We did enjoy having them to stay but it was quite a bit of work.
2 people like this
@just4him (306113)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
31 May 20
I'm sorry for the loss of your friend. It's good the family could come together to share memories.
2 people like this
@just4him (306113)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
1 Jun 20
@JudyEv I'm glad they did.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325759)
• Rockingham, Australia
1 Jun 20
Thanks. It was good that all her friends were able to gather and share their thoughts and memories.
2 people like this
@Hannihar (129444)
• Israel
31 May 20
@JudyEv It sounds like you had busy days. It must have been a hard time.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (325759)
• Rockingham, Australia
1 Jun 20
It is always sad to lose a good friend.
2 people like this
@Hannihar (129444)
• Israel
1 Jun 20
@JudyEv You are so right there Judy.,
2 people like this
@LindaOHio (156056)
• United States
31 May 20
I'm sorry you lost your friend. I'm glad you had a lot of people around to support you.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (325759)
• Rockingham, Australia
1 Jun 20
Thanks. It was a nice gathering of all those who loved her.
2 people like this
@LindaOHio (156056)
• United States
31 May 20
@kepweng Most of my friends are online too!
2 people like this
@DocAndersen (54413)
• United States
31 May 20
i love the topiary! last year we had my daughter's wedding, it took a month to get life back to normal.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (325759)
• Rockingham, Australia
1 Jun 20
Hopefully it won't take me quite that long. But I can understand that after a wedding it could take quite some time.
2 people like this
@DocAndersen (54413)
• United States
1 Jun 20
@JudyEv it took forever, but, the happy day was worth the pain!
1 person likes this
@LowRiderX (22907)
• Serbia
1 Jun 20
And I've been busy for the last two days, I've used the opportunity to spend as much time outside as possible, I'm going back to normal
2 people like this
@JudyEv (325759)
• Rockingham, Australia
1 Jun 20
Certainly it's nice to be able to spend time outside.
1 person likes this
@LowRiderX (22907)
• Serbia
1 Jun 20
@JudyEv After all that has befallen us (the whole world) I could hardly wait for it to end and for me to be able to get out
1 person likes this
@cool83 (4467)
• Sri Lanka
31 May 20
it is so sad to hear rite
2 people like this
@JudyEv (325759)
• Rockingham, Australia
31 May 20
Thanks. It is always sad to lose a friend.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (325759)
• Rockingham, Australia
1 Jun 20
@cool83 She had pancreatic cancer which is one of the very aggressive ones. It usually takes people out very quickly.
2 people like this
@cool83 (4467)
• Sri Lanka
31 May 20
@JudyEv Reason for that ..long time sickness ?
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (157552)
• United States
1 Jun 20
So kind of you to open your home at this time.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (325759)
• Rockingham, Australia
1 Jun 20
Thanks. We made use of so much stuff that mostly only comes out for concerts so it wasn't too bad. There is always a lot of cleaning after in a way. I've washed four sets of sheets and four tablecloths. The weather is a bit iffy so I used the dryer but now I'm going to need to iron them all. Usually I don't iron the sheets but they're really crumpled.
1 person likes this
@dodo19 (47050)
• Beaconsfield, Quebec
31 May 20
I'm sorry to hear that she passed away. It's always sad to hear when someone passes away.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (325759)
• Rockingham, Australia
1 Jun 20
Yes, it is a sad time especially for her husband. He has had a lot to organise but soon he will be left on his own to try to get on with his life.
2 people like this
@ptrikha_2 (45467)
• India
31 May 20
Sorry to know of the loss. It is indeed very sad to see a close one passing away. I hope that folks maintained distance at the chapel service. Has lockdown totally opened in Australia?
2 people like this
@JudyEv (325759)
• Rockingham, Australia
31 May 20
We are allowed to gather in groups now. We did maintain distance though not so much at the house. There was sanitiser at every door and we felt quite safe really.
1 person likes this
@rebelann (111164)
• El Paso, Texas
31 May 20
So sorry for your loss.
2 people like this
@rebelann (111164)
• El Paso, Texas
31 May 20
She had that so right @JudyEv once we reach 65 it's easy to see there might not be much time left.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (325759)
• Rockingham, Australia
31 May 20
Thanks. She talked us into having celebrations when we turned 70 because she said by the next 'big one' (75, 80), anything could happen, either to yourself or to your friends. She wasn't far wrong.
2 people like this
@Dragonairy1 (1722)
• Newcastle Upon Tyne, England
31 May 20
I’m pleased your friend had a good send off, and you all managed to get together.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (325759)
• Rockingham, Australia
31 May 20
Thanks. It was quite stressful in some ways but a lot of her friends were able to attend so it turned out well.
2 people like this
@thelme55 (76476)
• Germany
31 May 20
RIP to your friend. At least you and her family were able to send her off.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (325759)
• Rockingham, Australia
1 Jun 20
That's true and some families don't have that comfort.
2 people like this