In Memory of my Grandmother

Anna Davis Reichel
27 August 1916
14 August 1998



"Rather than mourn the absence of the flame, let us celebrate how brightly it burned."

I am standing upon the seashore. A ship at my side spreads her white sails to the morning breeze and starts for the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength. I stand and watch her until at length she hangs like a speck of white cloud just where the sea and sky come to mingle with each other.

Then someone at my side says: "There, she is gone!"

"Gone where?"

Gone from my sight. That is all. She is just as large in mast and hull and spar as she was when she left my side and she is just as able to bear her load of living freight to her destined port.

Her diminished size is in me, not in her. And just at the moment when someone at my side says: "There, she is gone!" there are other eyes watching her coming, and other voices ready to take up the glad shout: "Here she comes!"

And that is dying.

Anonymous

Let's comfort one another
with favorite memories
Of sharing times
when we were all together.
Let's celebrate the spirit
of one very special life
So in our hearts the flame
will burn forever.






May Your Memory Be Eternal
Her Journey's Just Begun


Don't think of her as gone away--
her journey's just begun,
life holds so many facets--
this earth is only one...
Just think of her as resting
from the sorrows and the tears,
in a place of warmth and comfort
where there are no days and years.
Think how she must be wishing
that we could know today
how nothing but our sadness
can really pass away.
And think of her as living
in the hearts of those she touched...
for nothing loved is ever lost--
and she was loved so much.






May Your Memory Be Eternal

To Those I Love And To Those Who Love Me
When I am gone, release me, let me
go, I have so many things to see
and do. You mustn't tie yourself to
me with tears, be happy that we had
so many years. I gave you my love,
you can only guess how much you
gave me in happiness. I thank you
for the love you have shown, but
now it's time I traveled on alone.
So grieve a while for me, if you
must, then let your grief be com-
forted by trust. It's only for a
while that we must part, so bless
the memories within your heart, I
won't be far away for life goes on,
so if you need me call, and I will
come. Though you can't see or touch
me, I'll be near and if you listen
with your heart, you'll hear all of
my love around you soft and clear.
And then, when you must come this
way alone I'll greet you with a
smile and say, "Welcome Home."

A message from my Grandmother...