Had her funeral today. Beautiful service. They say the work of a mother is very long and hard, and it takes so many years to see the fruits of that labour. But I could see the fruits today. 7 children and almost 30 grandkids, along with her other family, in-laws, friends of family, there were easily 100 people there. And that's not counting all the others who paid respect at the wake. I'm glad she got the send-off she deserved. I've never seen my grandfather look more frail though, it's taken a lot out of him.
I forgot to mention this in the first post, but on the way home the day she died(before we found out), my mam was telling me to look at the beautiful sunset. The clouds shone a beautiful purple and covered almost the entire sky except the horizon, and one odd circular gap much higher where the sky shone through. 15 minutes later we got home and got the call, and it made me think back on that strange circle. Almost like a gap in the clouds for her. Now I'm not one to call every weather effect or coincidence a miracle, but I like to think it meant something. She was not that far away, she might'e shared the same sky.
Anyway enough of my rants, thank you all for your prayers. Passings like hers always make me very pensive and sentimental, hers was the last generation of an Ireland that was one with the Church. Back when the country was known worldwide for its faith, when weekly mass attendance was nearly 100%, when even divorce was illegal. The end of her generation marks the end of an era.