Entry Music: Enya    

Father Jonathan

Hymn    

Morning has broken like the first morning,
   Blackbird has spoken like the first bird.
Praise for the singing! Praise for the morning!
   Praise for them, springing fresh from the Word!

Sweet the rain’s new fall sunlit from heaven,
   Like the first dew-fall on the first grass.
Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden,
   Sprung in completeness where his feet pass.

Mine is the sunlight! Mine is the morning
   Born of the one light Eden saw play!
Praise with elation, praise every morning,
   God's re-creation of the new day!

Eleanor Farjeon (1881-1965)

Introduction and Welcome: Michael Booth

David's memories (read by Father Jonathan)

Jacqui and I first met socially at a school parents evening in Surrey when I was almost brought to my knees with a blow in the back from one of her heavyweight handbags - I never did find out what was in it, but that moment marked the beginning of our never-ending love affair

She was always difficult, but never wrong. In Rome she was advised, as all tourists are, not to succumb to the demand of the street children. No chance – she was always accompanied by 40 or 50 of them!

She was involved in various local commercial enterprises. Her tea shop never made any money, partially because it soon became known as the place to go if you needed free tea and cake. The dress businesses were better. All her profits were either in the form of donations to those who needed them or are currently in her wardrobes.

She was always involved in everything, despite being warned of the danger of being seen as an aggressive incomer. Village fetes, school functions, charity fashion shows, garden parties, village pantomimes all had the benefit of her tireless efforts. Every year she was involved with the Race for Life (except last year) and fully intended to run again this July, even though we knew that wasn’t going to happen.

Her car was her greatest material possession. It appeared one day after I had asked her to look for something cheap (!) for me. It wasn’t cheap and she announced that I wasn’t going to drive it – I never did! But her real love was for her friends, many of them, her animals, many of them too, her children and step children and their other halves and most of all for her fifteen* grandchildren. We all loved her and will miss her immeasurably and eternally.

* Madeleine, Sophie, Jonathan, Charlie, Alfie, Olivia, Libby, Eddy, Ella, Stephanie, Sophie, James, Lara, Jasmine, and the youngest, Rose.

Father Jonathan

Heavenly Father, in your Son Jesus Christ you have given us a true faith and a sure hope.
Strengthen this faith and hope in us all our days, that we may live as those who believe in the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, and the resurrection to eternal life; through your Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Prayers of Penitence

As children of a loving heavenly Father, let us ask his forgiveness, for he is gentle and full of compassion.

God of mercy, we acknowledge that we are all sinners. We turn from the wrong that we have thought and said and done, and are mindful of all that we have failed to do.

For the sake of Jesus, who died for us, forgive us for all that is past, and help us to live each day in the light of Christ our Lord.
Amen.

May God our Father forgive you your sins, and bring you to the eternal joy of his kingdom where dust and ashes have no dominion.
Amen.

Hymn    

The day thou gavest, Lord, is ended,
   The darkness falls at thy behest;
To thee our morning hymns ascended,
   Thy praise shall sanctify our rest.

We thank thee that thy Church unsleeping,
   While earth rolls onward into light,
Through all the world her watch is keeping,
   And rests not now by day or night.

As o'er each continent and island
   The dawn leads on another day,
The voice of prayer is never silent,
   Nor dies the strain of praise away.

The sun that bids us rest is waking
   Our brethren 'neath the western sky,
And hour by hour fresh lips are making,
   Thy wonderous doings heard on high.

So be it, Lord; thy throne shall never,
   Like earth's proud empires, pass away;
Thy kingdom stands, and grows for ever,
   Till all thy creatures own thy sway.

John Ellerton (1826-1893)

The Collect

Merciful Father, hear our prayers and comfort us:
renew our trust in your Son, whom you raised from the dead; strengthen our faith that all who have died in the love of Christ will share in his resurrection; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God now and for ever.
Amen.

Readings

1^st from the Islamic tradition: Patrick Curran

Jacqui had many friends and relations in Cairo, and in consideration of her feelings for the Middle East and her respect for the Islamic tradition I would like to read the following words by the 13th-century Persian poet Rumi.

Rumi's mystical Sufi version of Islam preached a message of tolerance, love, peace, and joy. These are qualities that Jacqui had in abundance. We will all miss her and the joy she brought to us.

Look at love
how it tangles
with the one fallen in love

look at spirit
how it fuses with earth
giving it new life

why are we so busy
with this or that or good or bad
pay attention to how things blend

why talk about all
the known and the unknown
see how the unknown merges into the known

why think separately
of this life and the next
when one is born from the last

look at your heart and tongue
one feels but deaf and dumb
the other speaks in words and signs

look at water and fire
earth and wind
enemies and friends all at once

the wolf and the lamb
the lion and the deer
far away yet together

look at the unity of this
spring and winter
manifested in the equinox

you too must mingle my friends
since the earth and the sky
are mingled just for you and me

be like sugarcane
sweet yet silent
don't get mixed up with bitter words

my beloved grows
right out of my own heart
how much more union can there be?

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.

Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd: therefore can I lack nothing.

He makes me lie down in green pastures and leads me beside still waters.

He shall refresh my soul and guide me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil: for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

You spread a table before me in the presence of those who trouble me: you have anointed my head with oil and my cup shall be full.

Surely goodness and loving mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Glory be to the Father, and the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning is now and shall be for ever.

Amen.

Testimony and readings by family and friends

Michael, Susan, and Harriet

Harriet:

You can shed tears that she is gone,
or you can smile because she has lived.

You can close your eyes and pray that she'll come back,
or you can open your eyes and see all she's left.

Your heart can be empty because you can't see her,
or you can be full of the love you shared.

You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday,
or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.

You can remember her only that she is gone,
or you can cherish her memory and let it live on.

You can cry and close your mind,
be empty and turn your back.

Or you can do what she'd want:
smile, open your eyes, love and go on.

She is Gone: David Harkins

Nicki, Emma, and Charlotte

Nikki:

Jacqui's last 9 months were special. She showed her amazing and often incredible strength of character. She was brave, she was determined and she showed us all how much she loved us.

Jacqui knew about loss, especially early in her life when she had experienced much, She told us “it was harder for those who had been left behind” and then she set about finding ways to make it easier for us. This 'project' was one that she fiercely pursued even in her most difficult moments.

As many of you know, Jacqui chose no further treatment for her illness. She wished to keep her own strength and dignity for as long as she was able. She promised that this was the best way to “save us her family and friends” the added pain of enduring what was ultimately unchangeable. She kept true to this every day.

In her last few months Jacqui spent treasured time with those she loved, The house was always full. She went to wonderful places that she had never been to, took adventures abroad and even when she felt too ill to do some of these things she did them anyway. There was absolutely no way that she was going to let anyone down.

She asked us to look after each other, no matter what. Yes, to love and remember her, but also to treasure and make special the time that we have been given together.

Jacqui put others before herself. That is what she was really good at, especially when it really counted. We will always do our best to remember that gift and remember what she taught us .

Caroline, Lorraine, Jenny, and Jacky

Caroline:

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 sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry;
I am not there. I did not die.

Do not stand at my grave and weep: Mary Elizabeth Frye

Lorraine:

Never let it be said
that you were not indispensable,
particularly to those who loved you,
to those who you held dear,
nor to those to whom you offered
your hand in friendship,
nor to those whose lives
have been touched and enriched
by just knowing you,
for you were unique
and no one else
could ever take your place.

Irreplaceable: Maurice Newey

Jenny:

We are going to miss you Jacqui.

Everyone here has special memories, unique to them in which you figure, big time.

Charismatic, larger than life and with hair to match, you have kept us all entertained for years.

Your hilarious stories of your frequent mishaps overseas: the toilet cistern that fell of the wall as you pulled the chain, shattering the pan and rendering the facilities unusable for the rest of the desperate coach party who had been travelling for hours, Venetian shutters that came away in your hands as you opened them, told in ways that only you could deliver, ensured tears of laughter in your audience.

On one occasion, in Austria, whilst telling your stories to the eager guests assembled at your dining table, you reduced one fellow guest to such paroxysms of mirth that he fell of his chair, clutched desperately at the nearby curtains to save himself and brought the curtains and curtain poles cascading down into a great heap on the floor, to the hilarity of the entire dining room, thus increasing your fame in the hotel and also your bank of stories for future telling

The entertainment did not sto there.

Walking into your presence Jacqui, one always risked being met with a barrage of caustic comments, delivered deadpan and with a sardonic tone, usually about ones clothing choices. ‘Is that a skirt?’ voiced with a hint of incredulity, followed by a judicious pause, then, ‘not a pelmet then?’ is the type of remark that could have greeted any of us. No meeting was without its humour.

Then of course there were the innocent deceptions. The extravagant shopping trips that culminated in the arrival home of a mystifyingly large number of your ‘dry cleaning’ bags that were whisked past David and into the bedroom where the contents were swiftly secreted into the wardrobes only to be extracted a few weeks later with an ‘Oh this, I’ve had it for ages. Haven’t you seen it before?’ in response to David’s worried queries.

With this and so much more, you entertained us.

But there was much more to you Jacqui, than the ability to entertain.

There was a quiet and private side to you and you were deeply loyal to the people you cared for.

You were courageous, stoical in the face of difficulties, strong and brave throughout your illness, impressive in your ability to endure.

You were warm and loving and generous and there can be no one here who has not been in receipt of your affection and care and generosity.

You had a radiance, that lit not just your face but whole rooms, and filled them with your warmth.

You are beautiful Jacqui, inside and out.

We all have our special memories.

Jacqui, your public is going to miss you hugely.

We love you.

Jacky:

Feel no guilt in laughter, she knows how much you care
Feel no sorrow in a smile that she's not here to share
You cannot grieve forever, she would not want you to
She'd hope that you can carry on, the way you always do
So talk about the good times and the ways you showed you cared
The days you spent together, all the happiness you shared
Let memories surround you.

A word someone may say
Will suddenly recapture a time, an hour, a day
That brings her back as clearly as though she were still here
And fills you with the feelings that she is always near
For if you keep these moments, you will never be apart
And she will live forever locked safe within your heart

Organ Music: Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring    

Father Jonathan

Michael Booth: God be in my Head     

God be in my head,
    and in my understanding;
God be in mine eyes,
    and in my looking;
God be in my mouth,
    and in my speaking;
God be in my heart,
    and in my thinking;
God be at mine end,
    and at my departing.

The Sarum Primer

Recorded music: Avant de Partir    

Hymn    

All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful,
The Lord God made them all.

Each little flower that opens,
Each little bird that sings,
He made their glowing colours,
He made their tiny wings.

The purple-headed mountain,
The river running by,
The sunset, and the morning
That brightens up the sky.

The cold wind in the winter,
The pleasant summer sun,
The ripe fruits in the garden,
He made them every one.

He gave us eyes to see them,
And lips that we might tell
How great is God almighty,
Who has made all things well.

C. F. Alexander (1818-1895)

Father Jonathan

Let us pray

Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come; thy will be done; on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil
For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen.

Commendation

Committal

Exit Music: Pavarotti    

After the service refreshments were provided at
Walnut Tree Cottage, Bruisyard Road, Rendham.

Donations in memory of Jacqui may be made directly to St Elizabeth Hospice or by cheque payable to ‘St Elizabeth Hospice (Ipswich)’
c/o Tony Brown Funeral Services, New Cut, Saxmundham. IP17 1EH