A Quaker Funeral
Nov. 30th, 2024 08:20 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
poliphilo Quaker funerals are rare events. Trish noticed that the undertakers, sitting at the back, seemed to be paying close attention- as if they too were seeing something they hadn't seen before- and wanted to learn for future reference.
We had expected there to be a period of silence- but so many people wanted to pay tribute to Keith that it got crowded out. There were a lot of us in the chapel; Quakers, neighbours, friends. Keith had had no blood family but never mind, he had made one for himself.
Things we hadn't known before: 1. that he'd worked as a zoo keeper at Drusilla's- the theme park to the north of town. He especially loved the lemurs and the birds. 2. that when he was deputy manager at Claridge House- the Quaker retreat and learning centre- he'd been known for corralling people into impromptu circle dances. 3. That he adored Johnny Cash.
He was one of those people who live in several different worlds and maintain walls between them. I don't think he was secretive, just modest- and didn't expect people to find him fascinating. Only he was, he was.....
Another surprise was his request for his ashes to be scattered at sea. Could be that the RNLI will do it. Failing that, if the Quakers are asked to take it in hand, I'd be willing to wade out into the waves.
We had expected there to be a period of silence- but so many people wanted to pay tribute to Keith that it got crowded out. There were a lot of us in the chapel; Quakers, neighbours, friends. Keith had had no blood family but never mind, he had made one for himself.
Things we hadn't known before: 1. that he'd worked as a zoo keeper at Drusilla's- the theme park to the north of town. He especially loved the lemurs and the birds. 2. that when he was deputy manager at Claridge House- the Quaker retreat and learning centre- he'd been known for corralling people into impromptu circle dances. 3. That he adored Johnny Cash.
He was one of those people who live in several different worlds and maintain walls between them. I don't think he was secretive, just modest- and didn't expect people to find him fascinating. Only he was, he was.....
Another surprise was his request for his ashes to be scattered at sea. Could be that the RNLI will do it. Failing that, if the Quakers are asked to take it in hand, I'd be willing to wade out into the waves.
