Mum's Tribute to her life xx

Sonia Ann Strachan
19.9.1962 - 15.12.2011
Officiating Minister
Rev. James Connolly

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Music - `You're still the one' by Shania Twain

Introduction:
Friends, we are met here in God's presence to do
honour to Sonia Ann Strachan. We are here because
in one way or another this death affects us all. In all
of this, let us remember the love and the promises of
God. For Christians, death is not the end of life but is
part of that change from life on earth that is
temporary, to life in heaven which lasts for ever.
Hymn - `The Old Rugged Cross'
Prayer:
Eternal God, the Lord of life, the conqueror of death,
our help in every time of trouble, comfort us who
mourn and give us grace, in the presence of death, to
worship you, that we may have sure hope of eternal
life and be enabled to put our whole trust in your
goodness and mercy.
Heavenly Father, whose love is everlasting, help us
now to turn to you with reverent and submissive
hearts, that through the steadfastness and
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encouragement that the Scriptures bring, we may
have hope, and be lifted above our distress into the
light and peace of your presence.
Almighty God, our refuge and strength, you have
given us a High Priest who understands our human
weakness. Help us therefore to trust in Him with
confidence that we may know mercy and find grace
in time of need, through Jesus Christ our Lord we
pray.
Amen.
Scripture
Let us hear these words of Scripture to our
comfort:
The words of the Psalmist:
There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
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a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak
a time to love and time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.
He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has
also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot
fathom what God has done from beginning to end. I
know that everything God does will endure forever;
nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it.
God does it so that men will revere him.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8;11,14.
The words of Jesus:
"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God;
trust also in me.
In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not
so, I would have told you. I am going there to
prepare a place for you.
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come
back and take you to be with me that you also may
be where I am.
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You know the way to the place where I am going."
Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where
you are going, so how can we know the way?"
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the
life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 14:1-6
The words of Paul the Apostle:
But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the
first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.
For since death came through a man, the resurrection
of the dead comes also through a man.
For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made
alive.
But each in his own turn: Christ, the first fruits; then,
when he comes, those who belong to him.
Then the end will come, when he hands over the
kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all
dominion, authority and power.
For he must reign until he has put all his enemies
under his feet.
The last enemy to be destroyed is death.
1Corinthians 15:20-26
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TRIBUTE - by Ashley
`Our amazing Mum - Sonia'
My Mum made me promise I would stand here today
at this celebration of her life and share this tribute
with you. A lot of people have said to me they could
never do this but to me it is an absolute privilege,
also I do not want to break that promise as I would
be scared she would put lots of spiders in my bed
tonight!!!
Now please excuse me if I giggle because Mum had
some witty requests for some of the people here and
as you can see some people are wearing very silly
things, plus I know that a lot of Mum's very close
female friends are wearing very unique colours
under their clothes ;)
Before I start Karen also known as my aunty Karen,
my Godmother who has been one of my Mum's best
friends since childhood asked me to read out a
personal tribute today.....
My Mum's life may have been cut short in societies
eyes but in our Mum's eyes this was her destiny and
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that everything happens for a reason. When I see
everyone today, all the kind cards, conversations and
facebook tributes it is very clear to our family that
our Mum meant so much to so many people of all
different ages and I know each and everyone of you
will have a story or ten to share. Please cherish those
memories and share them because we want our
Mum's legacy to live on and on!! I just hope she
truly knew how loved she really was.
Everyone we have spoken to has said our Mum had a
heart of gold and made them laugh no matter what.
They said our Mum had the ability to turn a bad
situation in to a positive one - believe me Mum did
that right to the bitter end. Even at Mum's lowest
point - whilst in her hospital bed she was always
joking and laughing with her visitors and staff. I
Think the nurses must have dreaded visiting times
when Mum visits from the O'Hare trio on the ward -
that always brought about an eruption of laughter -
very loud laughter I may add!
It was as if Mum was protecting her family and
visitors from the sadness of her situation. Even on
the Sunday night before she passed away she had
everyone who came to visit or who she phoned that
night in fits of laughter with her witty only Mum can
get away with attitude. This was of great comfort to
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Hayley and I to sit around Mum's bed with her
friends and family listening to stories about the past,
I wish I could share them but 99% of them are not
appropriate for a church setting!!!
Mum was so unique, I know everyones Mum is
unique to them but all her friends say of Mum that
she was one in a million and that she was always
there for them no matter what, regardless of time
lapses in seeing or speaking to Mum she would drop
everything no matter what to listen and give advice
and believe me Mum would not hold back, she said
it as it was and I think this is why she has such a
strong set of friends because deep down they knew
she had their best interests at heart. If it was not for
her close friends Mum would not have got through
the past 9 years especially the last 6 months, you
know who you are and you know all it meant to
Mum to have you in her life, but even more so to get
her through the last terrible six months of suffering
meant more than words can say.
Our Mum meant the world to Hayley, myself and the
family. My Gran stepped into a very big set of shoes
becoming my Mum's Mum after her own Mum,
Vera, died very young and on many many occasions
Mum said that if it was not for our Gran, Mum,
Hayley and I would not be were we are today and of
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had the happy safe life we did. Gran is an amazing
women and Gran - that shone through Mum you
supported Mum no matter what and for that I know
she could never thank you enough!
Gran when you whispered to Mum before she passed
away that it was time for you to hand her back to her
real Mum I thought that was the most loving thing
you could have said to Mum that sums up the solid
relationship you had together. When Granddad died
in 2009 part of Mum died that day and I know she
took great comfort knowing she would be able to be
with him again and her Mum again.
My Mum has a brother called Iain and they have a
very unique relationship that has had laughter, tears
and arguments and every brother and sister
relationship is the same. They would do anything to
protect each other and they did not need to speak or
see each other all the time to know this. When Mum
needed her brother he was there no matter what and
supported Mum till the end with laughter and
reminiscing about their childhood. Uncle Iain would
come through from Glasgow on the train at the drop
of the hat, we just needed to say the word and he
came. Iain stayed with Mum to give us a break and
was with Mum when she took her last breath and I
know Mum wanted that so very much Iain. Please
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keep sharing those stories with Hayley, myself and
my flock especially Ben and Keira because they
wont have the memories Scott and Callum have of
their Nan so we need to keep her memory alive for
their sake.
When we where asked what Mum did for a career
there was only one answer and that was, as my Gran
worded it, being a lioness protecting her cubs - her
cubs being Hayley and I and later on her
grandchildren, Scott, Callum, Ben and Keira.
Mum's children and grandchildren were Mum's zest
in life and my Mum was the proudest NAN ever and
please its NAN not granny because apparently
Grannies are old people. Protecting us was Mum's
priority in life just as any Mum would but to us Mum
went that extra mile even if we where in the wrong.
That's not saying Mum did nothing for herself. In
life Mum dabbled in many things from hairdressing,
a care assistant, college, youth worker in the Rio, bar
work and latterly a taxi operator. Mum worked on
the taxis right up to the bitter end because that gave
Mum something to focus on and to keep her going,
she loved the stress and hustle of organising the
drivers. To give out orders and be payed to do so
was right up Mum's street because, believe me, Mum
LOVED to give orders maybe she should of joined
the army!!!
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