16/06/2026
Today’s service introduced me to a woman I’ll never forget. When I first sat down with her family to grasp who she was, I asked a simple question:
“Tell me about your mum.”
As I listened, and later made my way through the many messages shared over the last few days, the same portrait slowly began to take shape. A life built on kindness, care and resilience. The same words appeared time and time again: kind... generous... hardworking... fun.
She was the kind of person who was never far from a laugh or a bit of harmless mischief. Always made sure the kettle was on the boil. A woman who would ask if you needed a hand before you even realised you did. Someone who understood what it means to live by kindness in action, through the small, everyday moments that quietly change people’s days for the better.
And her kindness didn’t stop with people. Cats, dogs, and strays of all descriptions seemed to find their way towards her. She had a gift for caring, not only for people, but for any living thing that needed attention.
Preparing this ceremony reminded me that perhaps the greatest legacy any of us can leave isn’t found in the big milestones. It’s found in the cups of tea. The helping hands. The conversations that linger long after they’ve ended. It’s found in the people who remember how we made them feel.
Today, I had the privilege of helping tell Ann’s story and, yet again, was reminded that every ceremony leaves something behind with me, too. ✨
