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The Funeral Service
Aug. 26th, 2005 08:38 amThat was, by far, the best funeral I've ever been to.
First, his daughter played Adagio from Moonlight Sonata which I remember as being one of his favorite pieces. Then there was some words from the chaplain who saw Gerry at the hospice. She mentioned God but also was careful to acknowledge other interpretations. Mostly she spoke of Gerry and her impressions of him. Then my father read a poem that Gerry had wrote. It was about perspective, titled "Who knows?". Then a friend of Gerry's read from the bible, I don't really remember the passage but it was one of those parable, life-lesson ones, not one that preached. Then Gerry's third son played guitar and lead us all in singing "I'll Fly Away" - we didn't get choked up until the last verse. Then they passed the microphone around the room and anyone who wanted could speak about Gerry or tell a story about him. Everyone mentioned how important his family was to him, how much he loved people really. My father talked about how brave he was; never afraid to speak to anyone, never afraid to jump right in the middle of anything and set things right. Other people told about how wonderful he was with his kids, his family, his friends, strangers, how much he loved helping people, how much he loved politics because he wanted the WORLD to be right.
Then they had a montage of pictures on an overhead screen while the background was Gerry singing some old '40s bar tunes. The was oddly spooky; I was waiting for him to start talking at any moment. But it was comforting too; he hear his voice after so many weeks of his silence.
Then the chaplain spoke again, briefly and they closed with a hymn.
Outside the room were two huge displays of Gerry in pictures. One was him with his kids and grandkids throughout their lives. The other was Gerry himself, throughout the phases of his life. It was awesome. They gave everyone "Gerry Dokka for president" buttons to everyone.
The reception at my parents house was nice, but too much for me; I got a migraine and had to hide a few times. We did get to watch Gerry's panel interview for his presidential race in New Hampshire.
Pretty Good obit (you know he beat Al Sharpton? heh heh)
First, his daughter played Adagio from Moonlight Sonata which I remember as being one of his favorite pieces. Then there was some words from the chaplain who saw Gerry at the hospice. She mentioned God but also was careful to acknowledge other interpretations. Mostly she spoke of Gerry and her impressions of him. Then my father read a poem that Gerry had wrote. It was about perspective, titled "Who knows?". Then a friend of Gerry's read from the bible, I don't really remember the passage but it was one of those parable, life-lesson ones, not one that preached. Then Gerry's third son played guitar and lead us all in singing "I'll Fly Away" - we didn't get choked up until the last verse. Then they passed the microphone around the room and anyone who wanted could speak about Gerry or tell a story about him. Everyone mentioned how important his family was to him, how much he loved people really. My father talked about how brave he was; never afraid to speak to anyone, never afraid to jump right in the middle of anything and set things right. Other people told about how wonderful he was with his kids, his family, his friends, strangers, how much he loved helping people, how much he loved politics because he wanted the WORLD to be right.
Then they had a montage of pictures on an overhead screen while the background was Gerry singing some old '40s bar tunes. The was oddly spooky; I was waiting for him to start talking at any moment. But it was comforting too; he hear his voice after so many weeks of his silence.
Then the chaplain spoke again, briefly and they closed with a hymn.
Outside the room were two huge displays of Gerry in pictures. One was him with his kids and grandkids throughout their lives. The other was Gerry himself, throughout the phases of his life. It was awesome. They gave everyone "Gerry Dokka for president" buttons to everyone.
The reception at my parents house was nice, but too much for me; I got a migraine and had to hide a few times. We did get to watch Gerry's panel interview for his presidential race in New Hampshire.
Pretty Good obit (you know he beat Al Sharpton? heh heh)
