Family

They say there is a reason.
They say that time will heal,
But neither time or reason,
Will change the way we feel.
 
For no one knows the heartache,
That lies behind our smiles,
No one knows how many times,
We have broken down and cried.
 
We want to tell you something,
So there won’t be any doubt,
You’re so wonderful to think of,
But so hard to do without.
 
There is no night without a dawning,
No Winter without a Spring,
And beyond death’s dark horizon,
Our hearts once more will sing.
 
For those who leave us for a while,
Have only gone away
Out of a restless careworn world,
Into a “Brighter day”.

Behind the Gates of Heaven.
There’s someone special there,
A loving gentle Father,
Who always used to care,
Look around your garden Lord,
For a man with a smile,
That’s my precious Father, Lord,
He must stand out a mile,
Hold him in your arms Lord,
And treasure him with care,
For you have in your possession,
A father beyond compare.

He was my North, my South, my East and West,
My working week and my Sunday rest,
My noon, my midnight, my talk, my song;
I thought that love would last forever: I was wrong.
 
We miss your smile, your joking ways,
We miss the things you used to say.
And when old times we do recall,
It’s then we miss you most of all.

One night a man had a dream.
He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the Lord.
Across the sky flashed scenes from his life.
For each scene he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand;
one belonging to him, and the other to the Lord.
When the last scene of his life flashed before him,
he looked back at the footprints in the sand.
He noticed that many times along the path of his life
there was only one set of footprints.
He also noticed that it happened
at the very lowest and saddest times of his life.
This really bothered him and he questioned the Lord about it.
“Lord, You said that once I decided to follow You,
You’d walk with me all the way.
But I have noticed that
during the most troublesome times of my life,
there is only one set of footprints.
I don’t understand why when I needed You most You would leave me?”
The Lord replied, “My precious, precious child.
I love you and I would never leave you.
During your times of trial and suffering,
when you see only one set of footprints,
it was when I carried you.” 
 
Author unknown.

I am writing this from Heaven,
Where I dwell with God above,
Where there’s no more tears or sadness,
There is just eternal love.
 
The day I had to leave you,
When my life on earth was through,
God picked me up and hugged me,
And said ‘I welcome you’.
 
Please do not be unhappy,
Just because I’m out of sight.
Remember that I’m with you,
Every morning, noon and night.
 
But one thing is for certain,
Though my life on earth is over,
I am closer to you now,
Than I ever was before.
 
When you are walking down the street,
And you’ve got me on your mind,
I’m walking in your footsteps,
Only half a step behind.
 
And when you feel that gentle breeze,
Or the wind upon your face,
That’s me giving you a great big hug,
Or just a soft embrace.

I'd like the memory of me,
To be a happy one.
I'd like to leave an after-glow,
Of smiles when life is done.
 
I'd like to leave an echo,
Whispering softly down the ways.
Of happy times and laughing times,
And bright and sunny days.
 
I'd like the tears of those who grieve,
To dry before the sun.
Of happy memories that I leave,
When life is done.

God looked around His garden
And found an empty place.
He then looked down
Upon the earth,
And saw your tired face.
He put his arms around you
And lifted you to rest.
God’s garden must be beautiful
He always takes the best.
He knew that you were suffering.
He knew you were in pain.
He knew that you would never
Get well on earth again.
He saw the road was getting rough,
And the hills were hard to climb.
So he closed your weary eyelids,
And whispered “Peace be Thine”.
It broke our hearts to lose you
But you didn’t go alone
For part of us went with you
The day God called you home.

What kind of place would heaven be with all its streets of gold,
if all the souls, that dwell up there like yours and mine, were old?
How strange would heaven’s music sound when harps begin to ring,
if children were not gathered ‘round to help the angels sing.
The children that God sends to us are only just a loan,
He knows we need their sunshine to make the house a home.
We need the inspiration of a baby’s blessed smile.
He doesn’t say they’ve come to stay, just lends them for a while.
Sometimes it takes them years to do the work for which they come.
Sometimes in just a month or two our Father calls them home.
I like to think some souls up there bear not one sinful scar.
I love to think of heaven as a place where children are.

In dreams we see his smiling face,
And kiss his tender brow,
But in our aching hearts we know,
We have no father now.
 
The voice is now silent,
The heart is now cold,
The smile and the welcome,
That met us of old.
 
We miss him and mourn him,
In sorrow unseen,
And dwell on the memories,
Of days that have been.
 
Lonely is the home without you,
Life to us is not the same,
All the world would be like Heaven
If we could have you back again.
 
In tears we watched you sinking,
We watched you fade away,
And though our hearts were breaking,
We knew you could not stay.
 
You left behind some aching hearts,
That loved you most sincere,
We never shall, and never will,
Forget you father dear.

Death is nothing at all,
I have only slipped away into the next room.
Whatever we were to each other, that we are still.
Call me by my old familiar name,
speak to me in the easy way which you always used.
Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes we enjoyed together.
 
Play, smile, think of me, pray for me.
Let my name be the household word that it
always was. Let it be spoken without effort.
Life means all that it ever meant.
It is the same as it ever was; there is
absolutely unbroken continuity.
Why should I be out of your mind because
I am out of your sight? I am but waiting for you,
for an interval, somewhere very near just
around the corner.  All is well.
Nothing is past; nothing is lost.
One brief moment and all will be as it
was before - only better, infinitely happier
and forever - we will all be one
together with Christ.

Life is but a stopping place,
A pause in what’s to be,
A resting place along the road,
To sweet Eternity.
 
We all have different journeys,
Different paths along the way,
We all were meant to learn some things,
But never meant to stay...
 
Our destination is a place,
Far greater than we know,
For some the journey’s quicker,
For some, the journey’s slow.
 
But when the journey finally ends,
We’ll claim a great reward,
And find an everlasting peace,
Together with the Lord.
 
You were always there when we needed you,
No task too great or small,
With loving heart and willing hands,
For us you did it all.

May tender memories
Soften our grief,
May fond recollection
Bring us relief,
And may we find comfort
and peace in the thought
Of the joy that knowing
Our loved one brought,
For time and space
Can never divide,
Or keep our loved one
From our side
When memory paints
In colours true,
The happy hours
We spent with you.

Going home, going home,
I'm going home.
Quiet like some still day,
I'm just going home.
It's not far, just close by
Through an open door.
Work all done, care laid by,
Going to fear no more.
Mother's there expecting me,
Father's waiting too;
Lots of folk gathered there,
All the friends I knew.
Morning star lights the way;
Restless dreams all done;
Shadows gone, break of day,
Real life just begun.
There's no break, there's no end,
Just living on.
Wide awake with a smile
Going on and on.
Going home, going home
I'm just going home.
It's not far, just close by
Through an open door
I'm just going home.

The relatives of the late ....................................
desire to return their grateful thanks for your
kind expression of sympathy in their recent
great loss, and especially your kindness in
having Mass offered.

The parents, brothers and sisters of the late

....................................

gratefully acknowledge and very deeply appreciate your kind expression of sympathy in their recent great loss. The Holy sacrifice of the Mass has been offered for your intentions.

The wife/husband and family of the late

....................................

deeply appreciate and will always hold in grateful remembrance your kind expression of sympathy with them in their recent sad loss.

The family of the late....................................
will hold in grateful remembrance your kind
expression of sympathy in their recent bereavement.

The wife/husband and family of the late

....................................

thank you most sincerely for your kind expression of sympathy in their recent bereavement. The Holy sacrifice of the Mass will be offered for your intentions.

The brothers and sisters of the late

....................................

wish to return their very sincere thanks for
your kind expression of sympathy in their
recent great sorrow.

Family & Friends, I have left you: my last breath did not say, “Goodbye”, for my love for you is truly timeless. I leave myself not to the undertaker and the grave, but to your memory with love. I leave my thoughts, my laughter, my dreams to you whom I have treasured. I give you what no thief can steal: tender, lovefilled moments, the successes we have shared, the challenging times that brought us closer together and the roads we have walked side by side. Whenever you are in need, call me: I will come to you with my arms full of wisdom and light to open up your blocked paths, to untangle your knots and to be your avenue to God. All I take with me as I leave is your love and the millions of memories of all that we have shared. So fear not nor grieve at my departure, you whom I have loved so much, for my roots and yours are forever intertwined.

When I must leave you for a little while
please do not grieve and shed wild tears
and hug your sorrow to you through the years.
But start out bravely with a gallant smile;
and for my sake and in my name live on and do all things the same,
feed not your loneliness on empty days,
but fill each waking hour in useful ways.
Reach out your hand in comfort and in cheer
and I in turn will comfort you and hold you near;
and never, never be afraid to die, for I am waiting for you in the sky!

He never thought when leaving home,
He would never more return,
That he in death so soon would sleep,
And leave us here alone.
 
A sudden call from God on high,
You had no chance to say goodbye,
Without farewell you fell asleep,
But memories of you we will always keep;
And those who loved you dearly,
Are the ones who won't forget.
 
No farewells were spoken,
We did not say goodbye,
You were gone before we knew it,
And only God knows why;
But we always will remember,
Our whole life through,
The last words we had with you.
 
We never fail to pray for you,
We never cease to care,
We wish we could go home again,
And find you waiting there;
To the Throne of Christ he will guide us,
And with us he will stand,
And that golden chain will be linked again,
Locked by Christ's Own hands.

We lost a mother with a heart of gold,
How much we miss her can never be told,
She shared our troubles and helped us along,
If we follow her footsteps we will never go wrong.
 
We miss you from your fireside chair,
Your loving smile and gentle air,
Your vacant place no one can fill,
We miss you mother and always will.
 
She was a mother so very rare,
Content at home and always there,
On earth she toiled, in heaven she rests,
God bless you mother, you were one of the best.
 
Each time we look at your picture,
You seem to smile and say,
Don’t be sad, but courage take,
And love each other for my sake.
 
O Sweet Jesus, for the sake of Thy Bitter Passion
And the sorrows of Thy Immaculate Mother,
Have mercy on her soul
and let the light of Thy Countenance shine upon her.

Good was your heart in friendship sound,


Loved and respected by all around,


A beautiful life came to an end,


You died as you lived, everyone’s friend.

 



You left us oh so suddenly,


We could only weep and cry,


But the hardest part of all was,


We never said goodbye.

 



We cannot bring the old days back,


When we were all together,


But fond and loving thoughts of you,


Will be with us forever.

 



The happy hours we once enjoyed,


How sweet their memory still,


But death has left a vacant place,


This world can never fill.

 



Each time we look at your picture,


You seem to smile and say,


Don’t be sad but courage take,


And love each other for my sake.

 



We think of you in silence,


And often speak your name,


All we have are memories,


And your photo in a frame.

Just a prayer from the family who loved you,
Just a memory fond and true,
In our hearts you will stay forever,
Because we thought the world of you.

It was a sudden parting,
Too bitter to forget,
Those who loved you dearly,
Are the ones who can’t forget.

We often sit and think of you,
And think of how you died,
To think you could not say goodbye,
Before you closed your eyes.

 The blow was hard, the shock severe,
To part with one we loved so dear,
Our loss is great, we’ll not complain,
But trust in God to meet again.

 At night the silent stars look down,
On a grave not far from here,
Where sleeps the one we love,
In God’s safe keeping may he rest,
And pray for us who can’t forget.

You can only have one mother,
Patient, kind and true,
No other friend in all the world,
Will be the same to you.
 
When other friends forsake you,
To mother you will return,
For all her loving kindness,
She asks nothing in return.
 
As we look upon her picture
Sweet memories we recall,
Of a face so full of sunshine
And a smile for one and all.
 
Sweet Jesus take this message,
To our dear mother up above,
Tell her how we miss her,
And give her all our love.

What he suffered he told but few,
He did not deserve what he went through,
Tired and weary he made no fuss,
But tried so hard to stay with us.
 
A silent grief that’s in our hearts,
No human eye can trace,
For many a broken heart is hid,
Beneath a smiling face.
 
Pray for us, O dearest father,
To Jesus Christ, Our King,
That He may bless our lonely home
Where Thou once dwelt therein.
 
And pray that God may give us strength,
To bear our heavy cross;
For no one knows but only He,
The treasure we have lost.

Missed in the morning of every day,
Missed in the evening as light fades away,
Missed in a thousand and one little ways,
Around every corner a memory stays.
 
No one knows the pain we bear,
When we all meet and you're not there.
We talk, we laugh, we play our part,
But behind it all lie broken hearts.
 
You gave us years of happiness,
Then sorrow came with tears.
You left us lovely memories,
We will treasure through the years.

When God was making Mothers,
He must have made a fuss
He spent a lot of time on one
And gave that one to us.
Of all the gifts in life
However great or small,
To have you as our Mother
Was the greatest gift of all.
Because you were so special
No words could ever say
How much we love and miss you
Today and every day.

We sat beside your bedside,
Our hearts were crushed and sore;
We did our duty to the end,
‘Till we could do no more.
 
Our lips cannot speak how we loved him,
Our hearts cannot tell what we say,
But God only knows how we miss him,
In our home that is lonely today.
 
For many years the family chain,
Was closely linked together;
But, oh that chain is broken now,
The main link gone forever.
 
Gone from our home that smiling face,
The cheerful happy ways,
The heart that won so many friends
In bygone happy days.
 
The sunshine of our happy home,
Must always clouded be;
But Thou, O Lord has sent this cross,
We bear it all for Thee.

God bless you, mother, in your grave
God keep you in His care,
And may He listen to my heart
And hear my fervent prayer.
I pray that you are safe with Him
For all eternity:
And He will bless you for your love
For all your family.
May you have peace and rest at last
From every care and woe;
And may you sleep in comfort from
The winds and rain and snow.
God bless you for your smiling lips
And all you tried to do,
To bring us happiness on earth
And make our dreams come true.
And up in Heaven mother dear,
Please say a prayer for me
And for all your family.

We wander sad and lonely,
To a grave not far away,
Where we laid our loving mother,
Whom we still miss today.
 
Jesus saw her getting tired,
And a cure was not to be,
With loving arms around her,
He whispered “Come with me”.
 
It broke our hearts to lose you,
But you didn’t go alone,
For part of us went with you,
The day God called you home.
 
When the altar bells are ringing,
And all bend down in prayer,
We have visions of you mother,
With all your family there.
 
So rest in peace dear mother,
And thanks for all you’ve done,
We trust that God has given you,
The crown you’ve truly won.

I’ll lend you for a little time
A child of Mine.” He said.
For you to love the while he lives,
And mourn for when he’s dead.
It may be six or seven years
Or twenty-two or three,
But will you, till I call him back,
Take care of him for Me?
He’ll bring his charms to gladden you,
And should his stay be brief,
You’ll have lovely memories
As solace for your grief.

A mother’s love is special,
A gift beyond compare,
You only know the meaning,
When she is no longer there.

A bouquet of beautiful memories,
Sprayed with a million tears,
Wishing God could have spared you,
For just a few more years.
 
It does not take a special day,
For us to think of you,
Each Mass we hear, each prayer we say,
Is offered up for you.
 
May he rest in peace, dear Jesus,
May his spirit now repose,
In Thy great protecting arms,
Far from earthly woes.
 
Along the road of yesterday,
That leads us straight to You,
Are memories of happy days,
Together we once knew.

Others were taken yes I know,
But you were mine I loved you so,
A prayer, a tear till the end of time,
For a loving husband I was proud to call mine.

When last we saw your smiling face,
You looked so bright and well,
Little did we know that day,
Was to be our last farewell.
 
The Golden Gates stood open,
God saw you needed rest,
His garden must be beautiful,
He only takes the best.
 
Two tired eyes are sleeping,
Two willing hands are still,
The one who worked so hard for us,
Is resting at God’s will.
 
Your life was one of kindly deeds,
A helping hand for other’s needs,
To a beautiful life came a happy end,
You died as you lived, everyone’s friend.

Our hands reached across the sea,
And through the moonlit skies,
We calmed the raging seas at last,
With our gentle sighs.
No more pain or misery,
Our lives torn apart,
You brought me to your world with you,
To mend my broken heart.
You whispered in my ear to come,
I could not ignore your call,
I gave to you myself that night,
I gave to you my all.
Good bye to friends and family,
Do not mourn us now,
For we are free among the stars,
We take our final bow.
As gentle breeze and memory,
We caress all who touched our lives,
With God's prayer, love and tranquillity,
We look down with loving eyes.

God needed an angel in heaven
to stand at the Savior’s feet;
His choice must be the rarest
a lily pure and sweet.
He gazed upon the mighty throng
then stopped and picked the best,
our child was His chosen one
with Jesus she’s[he’s] now at rest.

Beautiful things in this life
are manifold tis true,
we count the stars by thousands,
the birds and flowers, too;
The sunsets and dawnings,
rare beauties far and near,
but all the wide world over,
there’s just one “Mother Dear.”

Behind the stars in the sky
In the heavens up above
Dad’s car starting up
Us two angels in the front
 
As we move up through the gears
Just smiles and love, no tears
Life’s worries have all gone
Just quality time for a father and his son
 
As heaven is all around us
Johnny Cash sings our favourite songs
No rush, no time, no deadlines
We’re back where we belong
 
We laugh and talk of old times
And how special they have been
The view from here in heaven
Is like nothing we’ve ever seen
 
And although we miss our loved ones
We’ll pray to keep you strong
And we’ll wait at heaven’s gates
For when you come along

Our family chain is broken,
Nothing seems the same,
But as God calls us one by one,
The links shall join again.

There is always a face before us,
A voice we would love to hear,
A smile we will always remember,
Of a daughter we loved so dear.
 
To us she was someone special,
Someone set apart,
And her memory will live forever,
Engraved within our hearts.

When I was young and in my prime
My mind being free from care
Whilst leaving all in Donegal to wander far away
Whilst leaving all in Donegal to wander far away
That I might plough the raging main, going to Amerikay.

In Creeslough town my friends stood round
And I bad adieu to all
In Creeslough town my friends stood round
And I bad adieu to all
And down Lough Foyle, and away I went
From the hills of Donegal.

The night being dark and stormy
And loud the waves did roar
Our captain cries, “Hold off, me boys
Our vessels going ashore!”
Our captain cries, “Hold off, me boys
To deck you one and all!”
And I rued the day I sailed away
From the hills of Donegal.

My father he’s a farmer
I mean to tell you all
Between Moville, near Derry
And the hills of Donegal.
I, being like many’s the foolish young lad
I thought I’d sail away
That I might plough the raging main
Going to Amerikay.

Here’s farewell unto Castlerock
Likewise unto Donhill
And to that spot where we sailed by
They call it sweet Moville
From sweet Culmore to that foreign shore
Where waves do rise and fall
Adieu, adieu to my wee lass
On the hills of Donegal

The angels sang "Amazing Grace",
Our Lord came down and touched your face.
He held your hand and whispered low,
"Come with me, it's time to go".

The gates of heaven opened wide,
The angels lined up side by side,
For a special guest was on his way,
The day you took our dad away.

I’ll lend you for a little while, a child of mine God said, for you to love him while he lives, and mourn for when he’s dead. It may be six or seven years, or forty-two or three, but will you, till I call him back, take care of him for me? He’ll bring his charms to gladden you and should his stay be brief, you’ll always have his memories as a solace for your grief. I cannot promise he will stay since all from earth return, but there are lessons taught below I want this child to learn. I’ve looked this whole world over in my search for teachers true, and from the folks that crowd life’s lane. I have chosen you.

Now will you give him all your love nor think the labour vain, or hate me when I come to take this lent child back again? I fancied that I heard you say, dear Lord Thy will be done, for all the joys Thy child will bring, the risk of grief we’ll run. We’ll shelter him with tenderness, we’ll love him while we may, and for the happiness we’ve known, forever grateful stay. But should the Angels come for him much sooner than we’ve planned, we’ll have the bitter grief that comes and try to understand.

A light is from our household gone,
A voice we loved is still,
A place is vacant in our home,
That can never be filled.
 
Lonely is the home without you,
Life to us is not the same,
All the world would be like heaven,
If we could have you back again.
 
The happy hours we once enjoyed,
How sweet their memory still
But death has left a vacant place,
This world can never fill.
 
How dearly we loved you,
And prayed you might live,
But Jesus just beckoned,
And we had to give.
 
God gave us strength to bear it,
And courage to fight the blow,
What it has meant to lose you,
God alone will ever know.
 
May the God of Love and Mercy,
Care for our loved one who is gone,
And bless with consolation,
Those left to carry on.

Though his smile is gone forever,
And his hand I cannot touch,
I still have so many memories
Of the one I loved so much.
His memory is my keepsake,
With which I’ll never part.
God has him in his keeping,
I have him in my heart.
Sadly missed but never forgotten.

The happy hours we once enjoyed,
How sweet their memory still,
But death has left a vacant place,
This world can never fill.
 
Each time we look at your picture,
You seem to smile and say,
Don’t be sad, but courage take,
And love each other for my sake.
 
We think of you in silence,
And often speak your name,
All we have are memories,
And your photo in a frame.
 
Lonely is the home without you,
Life to us is not the same,
All the world would be like Heaven,
If we could have you back again.
 
May the God of Love and Mercy,
Care for our loved one who is gone,
And bless with consolation,
Those left to carry on.

He bade no one a last farewell,
He raised his hand to none,
His spirit flew before we knew,
That he from us had gone.
 
He never failed to do his best,
His heart was true and tender,
He worked, and toiled for those he loved,
And left them to remember.
 
Along the road to yesterday,
That leads us straight to you
Are memories of happy days
Together we once knew.
 
May he rest in peace dear Jesus,
In Thy Heavenly home above;
With the Sacred Heart of Jesus,
In His own eternal love.

Mothers plant the seeds of love that bloom forever.

You cared for us when we were small,
Watched over us as we grew tall,
You shared our joys, you dried our tears,
Thank you Daddy for those precious years.

Take flight, dear Giant,
Over rocks poisoned with sea,
Through sand hardened with hail,
Leave your worries with me.

Your brothers and sisters too old,
To have conquered such a gale,
Overcome the roaring rain,
And the winds that wail.

They say your ship had sank,
And we cried out your name,
For a glimpse of a fading face,
And a voice that sounds the same.

Pauric Keenan

There is a home that lies beyond,
And past its golden door,
Awaits the one who’s now away,
Not lost, just gone before.

And in that home that lies beyond,
The Master will prepare,
A place for you, and when He calls,
You’ll meet your loved one there.

In a near and silent graveyard,
Where the trees their branches wave,
Sleeps a kind and loving father,
In his cold and lonely grave.

Your face is always before me,
Your voice I will never forget,
Your smile will linger forever,
In my memories I see you yet.
 
Your voice keeps whispering gently,
“Dear one be brave and true,
At the end of life there’s sunshine,
I’ll be watching and waiting for you”.

I could not stay another day,
To love, to laugh, to work or play;
Tasks left undone must stay that way.
And if my parting has left a void,
Then fill it with remembered joy.

Your smile has gone forever,
 and your hand we cannot touch.
 We have so many memories,
 of you, Dad, we loved so much.

An understanding heart,
 an intelligent mind,
 we miss you Dad,
 You were one of a kind.

His life earnest, his actions kind,
 a willing hand, an active mind.
 A loving brother and faithful friend.

Over in Killarney
Many years ago,
Me Mither sang a song to me
In tones so sweet and low.
Just a simple little ditty,
In her good ould Irish way,
And l’d give the world if she could sing
That song to me this day.

    “Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, Too-ra-loo-ra-li,
    Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, hush now, don’t you cry!
    Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, Too-ra-loo-ra-li,
    Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, that’s an Irish lullaby.”

Oft in dreams I wander
To that cot again,
I feel her arms a-huggin’ me
As when she held me then.
And I hear her voice a -hummin’
To me as in days of yore,
When she used to rock me fast asleep
Outside the cabin door.

Along the road of suffering,
You found a little lane,
That took you straight to heaven,
And ended all your pain.

Don’t cry for me please don’t be sad
Hold on to the memories of the times we both had
Don’t dwell on dark thoughts hold on tight to your wishes
Sending you hugs and butterfly kisses.
 
I walk beside you I am there all day long
I am right here but you think I am gone
You don’t see me but I can see you
What ever the problems I will help get you through
 
I am the wind in your hair the sand in your toes
Butterfly kisses that you feel on your nose
I am with you at sunrise and in sunset
But you can’t see me is my one regret.
 
I sit right beside you when you are sad
As you look through the photos of times we both had
I watch you sleeping I hold you so tight
Before I go I kiss you goodnight.
 
I will watch over you from heaven above
Forever you will be my one true love
Hold on to your dreams and all your wishes
Sending you hugs and butterfly kisses.