Click here for the background story – the cancer and suffering.

12 years before passing away, Mum made careful selections for her funeral  –  the hymns, a vocal solo and the Bible readings.  During her final 15 days, she also requested that the funeral service be led by the Rev. Nellie van Dyk who had visited her many times and had given her a lot of encouragement during the illness.  Assisting was the Rev. Richard Carter, who is the nearest thing to a local minister that the Kapunda Uniting Church has.  (Based at Gawler, he also works part time for the Light Parish by co-ordinating the preaching plan, doing pastoral visitation, and leading some of the worship services).  Mum also requested that Margaret Arbery be the organist, and that Jeanette Mickan sing the "Amazing Grace" solo.

At the the funeral, Dad (Ross), my brother Wayne and I were accompanied by Wayne's long-time friend Nancy.  We arrived at the Kapunda Uniting Church about 25 minutes before starting time, and found that the worship centre was already about 3/4 full, with several more people still in the queue to sign the Memorial Book.
Dad had already decided that he would be unable to read his part of the Eulogy, so this was assigned to the Rev. Richard Carter.  It became apparent during the service that Wayne would also be unable to read his small part of the Eulogy, so this fell to me.

Click here for the Order of Service issued to the public in attendance.

There seemed to be seating room for approx. 10 more people on the ground floor.  As I stood beside the Rev. Richard Carter during the reading of the Eulogy, I saw that the gallery was full.
200 copies of the Order of Service were printed, and the last several couples to arrive were asked to share one between them.  Perhaps a lot more people shared; we have no way of counting them.  The funeral director later returned 4 unused copies to us, so I am certain over 200 people attended.
Another measure: Seating capacity is 200 on the ground floor, and 100 in the gallery – so the revised estimate is 290.

Click here for the Eulogy prepared by Dad, Wayne and me.

By late arrangement, Moira Hill as President also gave an informal Eulogy on behalf of the BMW Owners Club of S.A.  Motorcycle touring was Mum's favourite activity, so this club was very special to her.  Thirteen motorcycles led the hearse procession on its 2 km journey to the cemetery.  Dad and I followed the hearse in the chauffeur-driven Mourning Car, a silver-grey Mercedes.
The weather was calm, fine and sunny, around 18°C – perfect for the occasion.

Click here for the Ministers' Order of Service which includes the prayers as well as the proceedings at the cemetery.

Click here for my pictures of the Floral Tributes.

Summary :
The whole funeral was an outstandingly successful tribute to Mum.  It was a shame that she could not have been there to see it.  She would have been impressed; perhaps overwhelmed.  The people in attendance represented all of the organisations in which Mum was active, as well as close family members.  As a mark of respect to me, there were also a couple from each of the Gideons and the Hillman Car Club.
Credit goes to the members of Kapunda Uniting Church for setting up the facilities and bringing food for afternoon tea in the hall, to the 2 ministers who led the ceremony, and to Barossa Funerals for doing a sensitive and thoroughly professional job.

For general information about Mum's ancestry, visit my Tschirpig web pages.