Everyone was welcome

I watched my godmother’s funeral last night. It had been live streamed earlier in the day, but I was at a specialist appointment with the youngest.

My heart clenched as I listened to the woman leading the service talk about Barb. I still can’t believe she is gone.

Barb was one of the people I felt like I was talking to each day when I wrote my blog. I loved knowing she was enjoying my tales..

It feels a little empty to write now, knowing that she is no longer here to read about my crazy adventures.

Barb’s son Nigel spoke at the service, noting that she was born a coal miner’s daughter in 1941. She grew up in South Cessnock on Kitchener Road.

That was where she met my mum. They went to Cessnock Primary School together and their friendship, as Nigel said, was to last a lifetime.

That’s them in the middle.

Nigel recounted how his childhood was filled with fun, laughter, music, holidays to very cold places and summers spent in the sandhills of Tuncurry.

Barb lived many places before eventually settling in the Brisbane suburb of Redcliffe with her second husband and love of her life Adrian.

She travelled widely, but once famously said “The Maldives aren’t as nice as Redcliffe.”

Family and friends meant so much more to Barb than exotic trips. Everyone was welcome in her home and in her life. She held no judgement or prejudice.

Oh how I cried as Nigel spoke about her.

There was a bottle of champagne and two glasses on Barb’s coffin at the funeral. Barb loved a glass of bubbles. The celebrant asked the congregation to remember her when we next sipped a glass and to raise it in her honour.

Vale beautiful Barb and cheers. I hope you are reading my blog posts in heaven with your beloved Adrian and know how much you are missed.

Song of the day: Michael Buble “Smile”