****'s Celebration of Life

Kathleen808
Kathleen808 Member Posts: 2,342 Member
edited August 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1

Dear Friends,
Tomorrow it will be one week since **** passed away.  It seems very, very surreal in so many ways.  We have had family and friends loving on us in abundance and we are very grateful.  We had ****'s Celebration of Life yesterday on the beach by our house and it was a beautiful event.  I know that he loved it.  We all gathered on the beach while musicians played Hawaiian music.  Everyone formed a circle and our pastor spoke about his friendship with **** and said a beautiful prayer. A dear friend wrote and Oli for **** and chanted it.  It is incredible.  I have posted it at the bottom.   Our family got into two boats and some got into the beautifully decorated canoes.  People came out on Hawaiian canoes, stand up boards and surfboards.  We went out between the beach and beautiful islands off our beach and our pastor, who was on his surfboard prayed again.  Our daughter and I released ****'s ashes into the beautiful ocean.  After a bit I went in and swam and others joined us.  It was so lovely.  After awhile we headed back to the beach and had a wonderful breakfast at the park.  His slide show played and showed some special times in ****'s life.  It was so wonderful I know that **** would have (did) loved it. 
People have started to leave the island.  My mom is staying for 2 more weeks and then my aunt comes for a week.  Friends and neighbors are standing by to help.  I feel the love but miss **** very much. 
I want to post a picture of the service if someone can tell me how to do it.  Try the link below.  (Thanks Ray)
Mahalo.

Aloha,
Kathleen

Copy and paste link below for photos of ****'s Celebration of Life

https://www.flickr.com/photos/rjmiche/15007556375/

 



Ke oli no Richard

August 21, 2014

Lanikai Beach

Kaʻōhao, Kailua, Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi

By Emma  for my dear friend, Kathleen, and her ʻohana in honor of Richard


Kū kilakila ka mauna o Kaʻōhao

The mountain of Kaʻōhao [traditional name of Lanikai] stands majestically

Haʻahaʻa ke kai ʻōlinolino

The gleaming sea is low

Lapalapa ke kai i nā Mokulua

The ocean rises and swells and Mokulua [Mokulua Nui, Mokulua Iki]

Pā mai ka lā

The sun shines down

Pā mai ka mahina

The moon shines down

Pā mai ke aloha

Love is felt and experienced

Hoʻopuni ʻia e nā pali

Surrounded by the cliffs

Hoʻopuni ʻia e ke kai

Surrounded by the sea

Hoʻopuni ʻia e ke aloha

Surrounded by love

Ke aloha ke Akua

The love of God

Ke aloha ke kāne

The love of man [symbolic of your husband]

Ke aloha ka wahine

The love of woman [symbolic of you]

Ke aloha nā pua

The love of the flowers [symbolic of your daughters]

Moe i ka maluahia

Rest in peace

Ka maluhia ke aloha

Peace and love

A Mau loa

Forever

Aloha ē

Aloha




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Comments

  • Lovekitties
    Lovekitties Member Posts: 3,364 Member
    #2
    Posting a picture

    At the top of the message area there are icons.  About 17 from the left is a "monitor" looking icon.  Click here.  It may take a bit of a wait but there will be a pop up window.  The first line will ask for a url of the pic.  To the right of that line is a "box"  click there.  again wait for the next pop up window.  At the top of that window on the left is a download button.  click there.  Go to where you have the pic stored on your computer and click on that file.  It should add that pic to the list of the previous window.  Click on that file and it should add the url into the first pop up window.  at the bottom left of that window is a submit/or add/or some such button.  Click on that and it should be added to your message. 

    good luck...and have patience with the pop ups

  • Lovekitties
    Lovekitties Member Posts: 3,364 Member
    #3
    Beautiful rememberance

    It sounds as if you, family and friends had a beautiful ceremony to remember ****'s life.

    I am so very glad that you have had the support of family and friends during this difficult time.

    Please continue to let us know how you and the girls are doing.

    Love and hugs,

    Marie who loves kitties

  • Cathleen Mary
    Cathleen Mary Member Posts: 827 Member
    #4
    Lovekitties said:

    Beautiful rememberance

    It sounds as if you, family and friends had a beautiful ceremony to remember ****'s life.

    I am so very glad that you have had the support of family and friends during this difficult time.

    Please continue to let us know how you and the girls are doing.

    Love and hugs,

    Marie who loves kitties

    **** was so present at this

    **** was so present at this celebration of his life.  Be gentle with yourself. 

    CM

  • Trubrit
    Trubrit Member Posts: 5,804 Member
    #5
    So sad, so beautiful

    I hope you are able to post pictures. 

    I truly believe that those who have passed are able to attend their final services and I've no doubt that **** was happy with his. 

    You have been in my thoughts allot. I am so glad you posted. Thank you. 

    May you continue to feel comfort and strenght, and may your girls be blessed and comfroted also. 

    SUE/TRU

  • LivinginNH
    LivinginNH Member Posts: 1,456 Member
    #6
    Kathleen,
    That sounded like a

    Kathleen,

    That sounded like a beautiful ceremony; I'm sure he would have been very pleased with this memorial service.

    Take care, and all my best,

    Cynthia

  • Easyflip
    Easyflip Member Posts: 588 Member
    #7
    How beautiful
    How beautiful to spread his ashes in the ocean. Even though his life ended early he seems to me to be a lucky man in many ways. I'm sure he will be missed and remembered fondly.
  • UncleBuddy
    UncleBuddy Member Posts: 1,019 Member
    #8
    Kathleen, my heart goes out

    Kathleen, my heart goes out to you. It sounds like you had a beautiful service for him. It's nice that you can stand at the edge of the ocean and know you are surrounded by him. Hugs!

    Lin

  • Yolllmbs
    Yolllmbs Member Posts: 360 Member
    #9
    The mental image

    The picture you've painted sounds like love and support. The service sounds wonderful. I pray for strength and peace. 

  • maglets
    maglets Member Posts: 2,576 Member
    #10
    Yolllmbs said:

    The mental image

    The picture you've painted sounds like love and support. The service sounds wonderful. I pray for strength and peace. 

    Kathleen

    Kathleen I keep reading your description of the day....it all sounds so wonderful.....all these years when I send you snow and mittens you have painted this picture of **** surfing for me.  It sounds so perfect....I am sure **** enjoyed it....sending love

    mags

  • geotina
    geotina Member Posts: 2,111 Member
    #11
    Kathleen:

    Perfect.  What a wonderful tribute.

    Love - Tina

  • Annabelle41415
    Annabelle41415 Member Posts: 6,742 Member
    #12
    Service

    It sounded like such a wonderful and befitting service for him to do all that you did and all the people that were involved.  He will surely carry on forever in the waters that held his ashes.  You are never far from my thoughts and prayers.  May you find peace and comfort in the days, weeks and years ahead.

    Kim

  • tootsie1
    tootsie1 Member Posts: 5,044 Member
    #13
    It was beautiful

    Kathleen,

    You created a beautiful service for ****. What a lovely time of celebration and remembrance! I know you have a long road ahead of you, and you will always miss your darling husband. I'll be praying for you!

    *hugs*

    Gail

     

  • marbleotis
    marbleotis Member Posts: 720 Member
    #14
    So beautiful

    This is so beautiful and touching.  I am finding it hard to type because tears are streaming down my face.

     

  • traci43
    traci43 Member Posts: 773 Member
    #15
    what a lovely tribute

    to you and ****.  Just beautiful. Peace be with you.

  • Nana b
    Nana b Member Posts: 3,030 Member
    #16
    traci43 said:

    what a lovely tribute

    to you and ****.  Just beautiful. Peace be with you.

    I loved seeing the pictures.

    I loved seeing the pictures. Great celebration of life. 

     

    You are all going to be fine, you have a great belief, outlook, friends, family and love. 

  • angelsbaby
    angelsbaby Member Posts: 1,165 Member
    #17
    Nana b said:

    I loved seeing the pictures.

    I loved seeing the pictures. Great celebration of life. 

     

    You are all going to be fine, you have a great belief, outlook, friends, family and love. 

    OH NO

    I AM SO SORRY TO HEAR THAT,  KATHLEEN U HAVE BEEN A GOOD FRIEND TO ME  HANG IN THERE

     

    MICHELLE

     

  • Helen321
    Helen321 Member Posts: 1,460 Member
    #18
    That was an absolutely

    That was an absolutely beautiful service!  And the poem is so thought filled.  I hope you are hanging in there.

  • Patteee
    Patteee Member Posts: 945
    #19
    Hi Kathleen

    Hi Kathleen

    Just thinking about you, sending warm vibes to you and your family.  I hate that you, your girls, your Mom, ****'s best friend, your family, friends, all of us here, I hate that all are going through this.  It is the sadest, most hard, part of this journey, letting go and moving on.  It just tears me up inside, this loss and the people left behind.  This void, emptiness.  I know in time that the memories will fill the void and hopefully keep safe the time and moment that **** was with you.  Praying for peace for you and holding you to the light!

     

    Hugs from Minnesota,

     

    Patty

  • thingy45
    thingy45 Member Posts: 632 Member
    #20
    Patteee said:

    Hi Kathleen

    Hi Kathleen

    Just thinking about you, sending warm vibes to you and your family.  I hate that you, your girls, your Mom, ****'s best friend, your family, friends, all of us here, I hate that all are going through this.  It is the sadest, most hard, part of this journey, letting go and moving on.  It just tears me up inside, this loss and the people left behind.  This void, emptiness.  I know in time that the memories will fill the void and hopefully keep safe the time and moment that **** was with you.  Praying for peace for you and holding you to the light!

     

    Hugs from Minnesota,

     

    Patty

    **** was there, I'm sure of

    **** was there, I'm sure of it. In spirit he is with you every day. Beautifull tribute to him and the love you all shared for him.

    i lost two husbands but they are still with me every day.

    i just wish you peace in your heart.

  • herdizziness
    herdizziness Member Posts: 3,624 Member
    #21
    I'm so sorry Kathleen

    that I did not write sooner, I've been a bit ill, and when I saw the news about **** all I could do,was cry. I am so sorry for your loss.

    But remember as in th poem above, "surrounded by love, surrounded by sea", Kathlen you will always be surrounded by love, ****'s love, your families love, and your friends love.

    If you need to talk at 3:00 in the morning, remember, we're here to listen.

    HUgs,

    Winter Marie

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