Memorial Service for Jim Cox
Jim's memorial service was held today, and it really was lovely. We all sang beautifully, which was really quite remarkable considering that some of us were crying at the same time. (Yes, I know, you wouldn't have thought it was possible, but somehow...more below).
The part that I liked the most was actually the remembrance letter that Father Stephen Redhead left to be read out at the service. It really seemed to capture the essence of Jim. I had always had a general awareness of Jim's personality, but because I didn't get to know him well it was so nice to hear Stephen (via Meg Warner) put into such eloquent words my general impressions of the man. A soul like his doesn't seem to come along all that often, and I'm so envious of Emily that she had such a wonderful father. It's a shame that Stephen was not able to be there today, but I guess when you're on a plane heading overseas you can be forgiven for your absence! At least he was here when Jim passed on, and I think that is probably much more important in the long run. He dropped into our rehearsal on Monday night to talk to us very briefly, and I'm glad for Emily & her family that he was here when it mattered the most.
Because I wasn't personally close to Jim, I didn't think that I'd be one of the ones crying today, but I looked across at Jane Bernays and she was in tears, and with Nicole sniffling beside me and Emma sniffling behind us, that was it, I just lost it. And of course, being in the front meant I had an excellent view of Emily & her family, who were of course also crying on and off. Peter Adams looked suspiciously red-eyed as well.
Anyway, the service was beautiful and I think that Jim would have approved our performance today as well. I'm quite sure that as soon as he passed through the Pearly Gates he was handing out ectoplasmic flyers for Canticum's concert in Stanthorpe tomorrow evening! I'll be waiting to feel the presence of various angels, archangels and assorted sundry souls listening in.
The part that I liked the most was actually the remembrance letter that Father Stephen Redhead left to be read out at the service. It really seemed to capture the essence of Jim. I had always had a general awareness of Jim's personality, but because I didn't get to know him well it was so nice to hear Stephen (via Meg Warner) put into such eloquent words my general impressions of the man. A soul like his doesn't seem to come along all that often, and I'm so envious of Emily that she had such a wonderful father. It's a shame that Stephen was not able to be there today, but I guess when you're on a plane heading overseas you can be forgiven for your absence! At least he was here when Jim passed on, and I think that is probably much more important in the long run. He dropped into our rehearsal on Monday night to talk to us very briefly, and I'm glad for Emily & her family that he was here when it mattered the most.
Because I wasn't personally close to Jim, I didn't think that I'd be one of the ones crying today, but I looked across at Jane Bernays and she was in tears, and with Nicole sniffling beside me and Emma sniffling behind us, that was it, I just lost it. And of course, being in the front meant I had an excellent view of Emily & her family, who were of course also crying on and off. Peter Adams looked suspiciously red-eyed as well.
Anyway, the service was beautiful and I think that Jim would have approved our performance today as well. I'm quite sure that as soon as he passed through the Pearly Gates he was handing out ectoplasmic flyers for Canticum's concert in Stanthorpe tomorrow evening! I'll be waiting to feel the presence of various angels, archangels and assorted sundry souls listening in.