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From:
Rick Ashton
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Tuesday, March 31, 2020
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---Full Ceremony Text---
Ceremony
Therese Bylsma
Guardian Funerals Chapel
Pinegrove
Tuesday 31st of March 2020
4.00pm
Entry “Amazing Grace” Eileen McCann
Introduction
Good afternoon everyone, my name is Maureen Thorpe and it is my privilege to officiate today. Firstly let me thank Eileen McCann for her beautiful rendition of Amazing Grace, it was lovely.
I welcome you all to this service today. We are here to pay our respects, and celebrate the life of Therese Bylsma. We know that if it was not for the current restrictions this chapel would have other people here with us, showing their respect for her. However I know we are live streaming to some of those people in Queensland right now, so welcome to you too. You will be able to watch and reflect on your life with Therese and how she influenced your lives.
We are here today to pay tribute to Therese, and be thankful that she lived and walked in this world. It also gives you the opportunity to say “farewell”. Therese is deserving of honour and recognition and any emotions that are evoked during this ceremony, such as love, laughter, joy, anger or sadness should be embraced, as it is the final milestone in her life. Therese was a loving Mum to Michael, Steven and Richard and mother in law to Perpetual and Kellie. She was also Grandmother to Daniel, Kiah, Rebecca, Jordon, Jo and Harry and Great Grandmother to Zahli. Therese was also a sister to Sylvia and Connie, sister in law to their partners, and aunty to their children.
In offering condolences sometimes the simplest words are the most difficult to find, especially when it comes to comforting those who mourn the death of a family member as you do today. When someone we care for dies, we are sad that they have gone. However if we believe that death is the transition from one life to another for the soul within us all, it will help with our grief. Everyone who knew Therese will know that here was someone who lived her life encompassing an abundance of different experiences. I am sure there was love and happiness for and with her children and her family. There would have been fun and humour along the way, as well as hardships and sadness in her life. All those things, Therese enjoyed and endured in her lifetime. When we are born and enter this world we enter it with nothing and when we leave no one can take anything with them, no matter how wealthy or powerful they were. However throughout our lifetime – however brief that might be, we all create memories that we leave as our legacy to our family and friends. Those memories can be good, they can be difficult, they can be funny, but all those memories shape you - that are left behind, into the people you are today. Memories live on and a person you loved will live eternally, because their spirit is alive in your souls. Therese physical self has left you, but her spirit is very much alive in your memories. As we talk about Therese today, and in the years to come, you will reminisce, and there will be laughter, as well as tears, as you recall your life with her. Your decision to come closer together is a way to break down the enormity of it all. It helps remind us all of the special way in which we relate to those people who cross our pathway in life. It reminds us that everyone is unique and leaves their footprint in this world. Remember that life is a journey. It’s filled with its adventures and its crossroads. We meet people along this journey sometimes at those crossroads, or during those adventures. Some people we meet touch our hearts, and there are some we will never forget, even if we never see them in person again. Memories live on and a person we loved will live eternally, because their spirit is alive in our souls. Therese’s physical self has left us, but her spirit is very much alive in our memories.
I would now like to read a little poem called “One at Rest”
Poem “One at Rest”
Think of me as one at rest,
for me you should not weep
I have no pain no troubled thoughts
for I am just asleep
The living thinking me that was,
is now forever still
And life goes on without me now,
as time forever will.
If your heart is heavy now
because I've gone away
Dwell not long upon it friend
For none of us can stay
Those of you who liked me,
I sincerely thank you all
And those of you who loved me,
I thank you most of all.
And in my fleeting lifespan,
as time went rushing by
I found some time to hesitate,
to laugh, to love, to cry
Matters it now if time began
If time will ever cease?
I was here, I used it all,
and now I am at peace.
I would now like to invite Therese’s daughter in law Kerrie up to say a few words about Therese.
Tribute Kellie
Thanks Kellie
Tributes from son Steven, sister Sylvia and nephew Matthew
Eulogy (depending on what is said before)
So what do when know about Therese? She was born on 10th of October 1944 in Paola, Malta to parents Mary and Charlie Barbieri. When Therese was about 3 years old the family migrated to Australia and ended up in Wentworthville. Her parents went on to have two more children Sylvia and Connie, two little sisters for Therese. Growing up in Wentworthville Therese went to the local schools and would have left when she was about 15 years old. When she was still very young, just 16 years old she met Anjo, and at 16 ½ years old they married. Michael came along, followed by Steven and finally Richard. Sadly Anjo passed away when the children were still young, and unfortunately Therese took ill and was unable to look after the boys. However she still loved them dearly. Richard can recall spending time with Therese parents, Mary and Charlie, and especially Mary’s beautiful Maltese cooking. Mary and Charlie made sure that the family all got together at Christmas to spend time with each other. Sadly Therese’s health never really improved over the years and at just 40 years old she ended up in a Health Care facility. Whilst there Therese made some lovely friends, especially Philip, they were very close. Therese was very upset when he passed away 11 years later. Later on Therese moved into Corrangbong Care Facility and she loved to go out on Theatre visits with them, and other outings. Especially if was to lunch somewhere as Therese loved her food. It was a sad day for her when Coorabong was sold. However Richard and Kellie were able to get her a placement at Mayflower Nursing Home at Westmead. It was closer to home and they were able to visit more often. They made sure that Therese had her own phone in her room so she could keep in touch with her family. Mayflower also used to have Day outings which she enjoyed as well as Church every Thursday.
One of the highlights of Therese’s life was when her first granddaughter Rebecca was born. She loved it when Richard and Kellie would turn up with all the grandchildren for a visit. Therese was also delighted to welcome Steven’s wife Perpetual into the family. She was so pleased to see Steven happy. Over the years Therese always enjoyed getting parcels from him for Mother’s Days, Birthdays and Xmas. She also always looked forward to her special packages from her sister Sylvia. There would always be a lovely surprise in there for her. Therese had a number of passions in life, but here as some that come to mind are 1) Her love of food, 2) her love of fashion, and 3) getting her hair done. Therese always wanted to look good going out. I believe she has her burgundy lipstick on and her hair looking good today, on her journey to her next adventure.
She also loved Elvis and she loved to Dance, which she enjoyed in her younger days.
Over the past few years Therese’s health has slowly deteriorated, but she still enjoyed spending Christmas with Richard and Kellie and the family. She also enjoyed going out with them every month or so for lunch. Often she would insist on the latest Burger from McDonalds, with an Apple Pie to follow. Or anything Chinese, and Kellie said give her a nice steak and Therese could “gummy” it to death. Although her health had been deteriorating it was still a huge shock to everyone when Richard received a call from Mayflower on Wednesday 18th to say that Therese was unwell. She was taken to Westmead Hospital with respiratory issues. Initially there were concerns that it may have been Covid 19, and she was treated as such. However it turned out to be bacterial pneumonia, which was still deadly. Therese went downhill rapidly and sadly she passed away on March 21st 2020.
Reflection “Hallelujah” Eileen McCann
Ladies and gentlemen we have come to a time of reflection. This is a time where you can remember your thoughts of, and your times with Therese. Therese has certainly left everyone with many memories and all of those memories make you what you are today. You will remember her as a living, vital presence. Those memories will help comfort you when you are feeling sad. Your grief today is a token that death cannot take from you the most precious of your treasures, namely love. So please sit back and listen to Eileen singing that beautiful song “Hallelujah”.
I would now like to read a poem that is a little thought provoking. I urge to you pay special attention to the words and think about what you want to be remembered for. It is called “The Dash” by Linda Ellis.
Poem “ The Dash”
I read of a man who stood to speak
At the funeral of a friend
He referred to the dates on her tombstone
From the beginning...to the end
He noted that first came her date of birth
And spoke the following date with tears,
But he said what mattered most of all
Was the dash between those years
For that dash represents all the time
That she spent alive on earth.
And now only those who loved her
Know what that little line is worth
For it matters not, how much we own,
The cars...the house...the cash.
What matters is how we live and love
And how we spend our dash.
So, think about this long and hard.
Are there things you'd like to change?
For you never know how much time is left
That can still be rearranged.
If we could just slow down enough
To consider what's true and real
And always try to understand
The way other people feel.
And be less quick to anger
And show appreciation more
And love the people in our lives
Like we've never loved before.
If we treat each other with respect
And more often wear a smile,
Remembering this special dash
Might only last a little while
So, when your eulogy is being read
With your life's actions to rehash...
Would you be proud of the things they say
About how you spent YOUR dash?
I would now like to read the Lord’s Prayer so please join me if you wish.
Lord’s Prayer
Our father -who art in heaven,
Hallowed - be thy name
Thy kingdom come
Thy will be done
On Earth - as it is in Heaven
Give us this day- our daily bread
And forgive us - our trespasses
As we forgive those- that trespass against us
And lead us - not into temptation
But delivery us - from evil
For thine is the Kingdom
The Power and the Glory
Forever and ever
Amen
Committal
Now if you could please be upstanding. Let us now say farewell to Therese, let us give thanks for her life and may any regrets you have today turn into gratitude for the time you shared with her. Thank you Therese for your love, thank you for being you. So until, we meet again...Rest in Peace Therese. We now leave you in peace and with the utmost respect we bid you farewell. You are forever in our hearts. I would now like Eileen to sign “You Raise me up” and when she has finished we will follow the family from the chapel.
“You Raise me up” sung by Eileen McCann
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