A Celebration of Life ~ My Dear Nanna Hutch

Yesterday we celebrated the long, amazing life of my dear Nanna Hutch.

It was such a lovely funeral. Family and friends gathered together and supported each other as we remembered all the wonderful things about Nanna. She was so dearly loved by so many and will leave a massive hole in the lives of us all.

Mignonette Hutchinson (aka Nancy) passed away peacefully last Friday, 2nd August, 2013, in St George Hospital. The loving and devoted wife of my dear Poppy Hutch (Bill ~ deceased). Loving mother of 4 children, grandmother to 15 and great-grandmother to 24.

I spoke at her funeral, and while it was one of the hardest things I have had to do, I am so glad I was strong enough to get up there and say what I wanted to. Through tears, pauses for deep breaths, shaking hands and the steady hand of one of my dear cousins on my back for support, these were some of my words:

We knew the day would come
But still, it took us by surprise
It’s still yet to sink in
Though soon we’ll realise

Can no longer feel your touch
Or look into your eyes
No longer hear your voice
But still, it’s not goodbye

You live on in our memories
All the good times that we shared
The special things you did for us
And the way you showed you cared

We only have to think of you
And we’ll know you are still there
There’s a piece of you in all of us
You’re around us everywhere

So many hearts were broken
The day you closed your eyes
Generations gathered close
Together by your side

And so you took your last breath
and in working through my grief
I came across a poem
Offering a moments relief

‘Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there, I do not sleep
I am a thousand winds that blow
I am the diamond glints on snow
I am the sun on ripened grain
I am the gentle Autumn rain
When you awaken, in the mornings hush
I am the swift, uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled light
I am the soft star that shines at night
Do not stand at my grave and cry
I am not there, I did not die’