Slightly later than promised, here are the funeral details:
Monday 26th September 2011
11.45 sharp (Rosie hated people being late)
Bromesberrow Village Hall
Albright Lane
Bromsberrow
HR8 1RZ
Wear black with a flash of colour somewhere/somehow. (TKOE black tshirts or black domino jewellery still available, although we are beginning to run short of some so we’ve got some fine donations to make soon.)
Bring your own umbrella in case it rains.
Wear shoes you can walk 400m in (there will be transport for anyone who can’t walk that far).
Bring a pen.
We don’t want bouquets, but if you remember, can you bring either a small bunch of flowers (handpicked, especially fine) which would fit in a jam jar or a small bunch(?) of those stripy lollies you can get. The candy ones. Not the frozen ones. They would be messy.
If you would like to make a donation then cheques to The Knock on Effect c/o Abbotsfield Funeral Directors, The Apostolic Hall, Bye Street, Ledbury, HR8 2AA
Everyone welcome – including children. We are quite happy to have young children/babies (even crying ones) join us – funerals aren’t just about older people and this is to celebrate Rosie.
Thanks for all the helpful advice and thoughts. Coffin now chosen and being made; Sylvie has given the florist her instructions; Toby, Amy and us have picked where she is to be buried and we’ve had an enormous amount of help from different people who are keen to do their bit for Rosie and give her a good send off.
On the subject of coffins, we’ve discovered there are all sorts of lovely sites. So make yourself a nice drink, sit down and google. I think we should all choose our favourite coffins in advance because you never make the best of decisions when you are distressed and you’re going to be in it for a long time. Someone we’ve been told about already has theirs and uses it as a log basket for the moment.
Jo
The Knock On Effect 
Dear Jo Chris Calum Sylvie and Toby, I look forward to celebrating the life of the amazing Rosie Monday week with all of the wider TK family, it will be a privilege to share the day with you xx
Will be there, all instructions duly noted. A very special event for a very special girl.
There are so many firsts on this blog. I had never given a thought to looking at coffins, but you are of course absolutely right. Will get onto it on one of these rainy days we’re having…
Love to you all, thinking of you all the time. x
Thank you for the details, duly noted, pen put to one side in readiness. You have answered a long standing dilemma as to what we should do with our coal/logs for the fire – we now have out answer! Thanks you x
Well done all of you – once again, it sounds like you are going to give Rosie a wonderful and rather thought provoking send off, I shall enjoy searching for stripy lollies – never had to do that for any event before!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you also for involving Rosie’s friends in the funeral arrangements – I am sure they have made lots of helpful suggestions and I am sure this has also helped them to come to terms with events.
Big hugs and lotsa love – Georgina xxxxx
Having perused them myself after your last posting, I’m having a woollen one, cosy coffins have got to be the way to go 🙂
Still awaiting our instructions ref helping, anything we can do? Not sure if Henry’s coming yet but George and I will definitely be there x
PPS I ordered a couple of t-hirts online the other day to help you shift the stock/swell funds. Don’t bother posting them just give them to us after the funeral and stick the postage in the pot x
Is it ok to wear black trousers shoes etc. and a white shirt with coloured tie/belt???
That certainly sounds as though it would meet Rosie’s requirements. Jo
*if you would like all black then thats what i will wear, my thoughts are with you xxx
Hi all so hope I can be there to share in your celebration of what was an amazing life x
Thanks Jo, all your and families comments noted, we will try and be there if at all possible.
I am sure Rosie will have an excellent send off and you all will make it a celebration of her life together with family and friends. Love the idea of the stripy lollies, reminds me of Kojak, and the idea of small bunch of hand picked flowers, thinking of Rosie I feel beautiful violet and red wild flowers might be appropriate if we can find some (smile)?
I tried to look on Google maps in street view to see where the village hall was and if it was wheelchair accessible but only found a narrow lane with handful of village houses, a large greenhouse and surrounded by many fields too?
Jo, I agree with you and Chris when you write above it might be prudent for each of us you plan our funeral in advance, it can be a very traumatic experience for our relatives when they don’t know what we wish; thankfully already entered my details and thoughts in Bev and my wills as soon as I developed male breast and bone cancers, though I had a military will prior to that in case of death during active duty at home or abroad. Dying intestate can be a nightmare. I think your family and Rosie have done extremely well under very difficult conditions, there is nothing more satisfying than being with family and friends when it is our time to go and then being surrounded by everyone attending a celebration of our life together.
Jo, can I please ask you later post the cemetery address where Rosie will be buried so if we miss the funeral we can later call at her grave side so we can pay our respects? Thanks Jo. I am sure others might also want to pay their respects over many years to come, so might be worth noting it on Rosie’s blog too. I think I can hear Rosie would say don’t forget to post some pictures Mum and Dad too? Boy I miss that lovely young lady, xxx.
Dear Jo
I hope to be able to come along. I would love to join a celebration of Rosie’s life.
This sounds just like something she would have done.
Pen ready.
Best wishes to rest of Team Kilburn
Michelle
PS Tomorrow I’m ironing Steve’s shirts. I’m charging him for it – the monies will be donated to TKOE!
On the one hand that is a brilliant idea. On the other hand, Chris does all the ironing here, and he has a nasty glint in his eye having read your post . . . .
Ooops, sorry. But I’m putting a lot of effort this week into raising money for TKOE.
It might not be much, but I will do my best.
Baking tomorrow night for selling at work.
Might just have to send Steve and Eshaness on the streets for the rest of the week – that’ll get us 50 pence (hopefully 🙂 )
Anybody (not Team Kilburn, obviously) want to buy a photoof Kilburn the otter….
What else can I sell..mmmm…scraggy old cat, useless husband, not much else left 😉
Meeeeee please, Mic….love the latest pic of Kilburn….he looks plump and well and has a smile on his face 🙂
x
So Lin, you want to buy my husband – yes!!!!! Result!!! I’ll throw in Eshaness, the squawky old cat too 😉
(Steve has just asked Eshaness if she’s going to stand for this!!!).
I’ll bring Kilburn (photo) with me, just for you x
I would bring Eshaness but she’s not mostly black with a splash of colour 😉
Ironing done. Hope Chris is charging you a fair rate Jo.
Eeek!! Whilst I’m sure your husband is scrumptious my toyboy may well object…..as for Eshaness….I’m sure I would love her but bet she is happier with you than she would be with me and my two reprobates – the the fat, bullingy, mummy-clingy, face licking Poppy, and the very vocal, small livestock slaughtering and “bring home to try and teach silly mummy the yumminess of fresh meat” Hebe.
Do I take it that Steve WASN’T objecting, just expecting the poor cat to do it for him????? *grins
Doesnt she have white bits?
Anyroad, silliness aside, the pic would be great and merits a donation I think :)) Thank you 🙂 x
See you Monday – I’ll be the one in the shocking pink patent DMs……:)
Wow, love the sound of your two 🙂
As for Steve being scrumptious – what???? He’s my fat, grey, miserable, old man, make of that what you will. We have been together for 25 years, so he must be good for me.
I’ll have pink cats on my top. And I might have tweed converse shoes.
All the rest will be black.
Kilburn’s yours. He’s named after someone you loved to bits, and reading the bit when you put about Rosie’s little fingers holding you, that made me smile, you need Kilburn for Rosie’s free spirit.
I was thinking of Rosie today. I am so annoyed I didn’t make it to see her. It reminded me of the buddhist phrase ‘the trouble is, we think we have time’. So now, I’m making time, I’ll do all of the stuff I say I will. Thus coming on Monday, to pay my respects.
Life’s too short. I want to make the best of it. And Rosie has inspired me in ways she wouldn’t believe.
Thank you Mic, thats lovely……..she has me too tho at the moment I am feeling every one of my years:)
You’d like the cats….they’re demented.
See you Monday
x
I am sorry I won’t be able to come.It’s too far but my thoughts will be with you.
Im sorry I wont be there, all a bit difficult right now, but I will be wearing my domino earrings and raising a glass to Rosie and to you all.
Walkers , en masse, will be with you guys Monday week!
You’re all still constantly in my thoughts and in my heart ….. certainly not a case of ‘out of sight , out of mind’ here. Rachel is flying back from Paris 4 days early to be with too …. her au pair ‘mum’ has even insisted on paying for the change of flight …. how blessed is that? May you be filled with inner strength and peace, as you prepare for Rosie’s life-celebration over the coming week …. and the following days …weeks….months….years!
I prescribed a ‘woodland burial’ with a wicker-basket coffin for my funeral one day, after I discovered the natural-burial concept during my horticulture studies ….. 10 years ago this autumn. The kids thought it slightly spooky that I should look forward to something like that, but at least it means that they wouldn’t be guessing what to do with me 😉 … I even chose a Sorbus ‘cashmiriana’ tree, as my favourite … but, it’s not a native species, so may not be allowed in a nature reserve!!!! I thought about getting a coffin and keeping it as a piece of furniture too, and gradually personalising and decorating it, but our house isn’t big
enough.
I’ve not seen a ‘woollen’ one Pip …. I’m going to have to Google that!
Rosie …… fond and warm memories living on …. of a girl who was so ‘real’ about life …. missing your presence in this world …. now and always.
Deb and gang xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
wont be there today – but will be thinking of you all x
appogies – i mean next monday – but still thinking of you all anyhow x
I will be travelling, on the day (nice early start) from Northampton to Ledbury, coming via the scenic route – sort of Banbury, Chipping Norton, Twekesbury etc.
If anyone would like a lift please let me know, I’d be more than willing to stop on my way.
My email address is michellegabriel@ntlworld.com
I shall be there, as myself and also representing Mags. I’ve decided to stick Mags’ photo on a badge so she’ll be visibly there! Jill
I won’t be able to make it as it’s a bit too far from Liverpool, plus it’s my first day back at work after three weeks leave so they may not be too impressed if I’m a no show, even for a reason as important as this. I will however be observing the dress requirements and thinking of you all on the day. If she’s ok with it, Mic can be my representative. Hx
Of course I’ll be your representative. x
Oooooohhhh, thanks Jill, a lovely idea!!!
love mags.
My TKOE T-shirt has just arrived! Wow! The colour really does splash – and the black will offset Mags’ photo beautifully. Jill
I will be there. X
Dear Jo, Chris, Calum, Sylvie and Toby,
I was thinking about you all and thought I would just drop a line. I am hoping to come to the funeral and I am just waiting to hear back from school if it is ok. The letters TKOE made me think of what else they might stand for in connection with Rosie. Together Kindness Overcomes Everything perhaps. Ok, so not everything maybe but so much. Rosie seems to have brough people together; that was her gift, and so much kindness and warmth comes across from these messages. What a great legacy, what a special girl.
Thinking of you all, thinking of Rosie. xx
Unfortunately our little dog has lens luxation and we are currently treking between Somerset and Devon to a specialist vet for treatment and two major eye surgeries. I am therefore unable to attend which is a huge disappointment as I am sure this is going to be one very special event.
I hope you are all coming to terms with your loss and wish you all the very best.
Ai xx