This service was given for my mother who passed away on April 19 1988 and who is greatly missed and will always missed and stay in hearts and thoughts forever!!
MEMORIAL SERVICE
For
MRS. BEATRICE ELEANOR MUSKETT
April 23, 1988
At
HILL AND ROBINSON FUNERAL HOME
Family and friends of Mrs. Bea Muskett, we have assembled today to pay tribute to the life and memory of one who has touched our life. By our presences here, each of us is giving an indication of the fact that we have shared in a meaningful relationship as a family member or within the community. In these moments, our minds are flooded with special and happy memories of our associations with Bea. We will always hold these memories dearly in our hearts and minds. We and her works of kindness and with the passing of days they shall not diminish in their influence upon our homes and our community. In the depth or our loss, may we hear the invitation of one who alone can bring true comfort.
Jesus says:
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matt.11: 28-30)
Lord of life, Author of hope, Victor over Death, is now our Refuge and strength, our very present help me in time of trouble. Thought you world, father, enable us to find patience and comfort in our present circumstance. Through the power of your holy spirit, grant that our minds and hearts, and faith may be raised above the shadows of morality and brought into light of your countenance and the joy of your presence. We pray this in the name of your son, our saviour, Jesus Christ who taught us to pray together saying:
“Our father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done as it is in heaven. Give us this day, our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespassed against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil; for thine is the kingdom the power and the glory forever and ever.”
AMEN.
In times of great hurt or loss, some people turn to food or drink to fill or hide the empty place inside. But we are using the physical to feed our emotional and spiritual needs. Jesus said:
“Man dose not live by bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”(Matt 4:4)
Let us turn to the word of God and open our secret inmost private recess of our selves to the comfort and care of a loving God.
The Psalmist says:
PSALM 103:13-17
Isaiah the prophet records these words of comfort:
ISAIAH 40: 1,2,28-31
Jesus, Knowing of his imminent death, spoke these words of comfort to His disciples:
JOHN 14:1-6, 18,19,27
The apostle Paul asks:
ROMANS 8:35,37-39
Finally, we turn to the most familiar passage of comfort. The passage Mrs. Muskett and I quoted together in the hospital and which was included on the memorial cards provided by the funeral home. I invite you to join with me in saying The Shepard’s Psalm
PSALM 23
O God, our heavenly Father, in our sorrow we turn our tear stained faces toward you, and we open our grief stricken hearts to your holy spirit. Once again, death has crossed our path and removed from our midst one who is very dear to us. Now we are left to walk the rest of life’s journey without our mother, my wife, my sister, aunt neighbor – without our friend, Bea Muskett
We turn to you, our god, because you are the source of life and hope when all else fails. You have never failed us or left us helpless and alone, and we know that you will not fail us now. The bible says that you the God of all comfort who comforts us in all our troubles. (II Cor. 1:3,4) So, Father, come to us now with all you comforting spirit and power.
Come and whisper to each troubled and sorrowing person these assuring words, which Jesus spoke long ago to those who grieved;
“I am the resurrection and the life…
I am the way, the truth, and the life…
I am come that they might have abundant life…
God, help us here in the presence of death to realize that with you the word is not death but LIFE
Thank you, Father for the gift of allowing us to share life until these moments with Bea whom we now honor and whose memory we cherish. She has touched, influenced and shaped our lives and we will always be thankful for the gift of shared life. Thank you for her strength and courage in the face of difficulties, for the care and concern she expressed for those whom she loved, for her frankness and determination, and for her open heart and open home. We pray that somehow we may continue to show the goodness, kindness and thoughtfulness she taught us by her example.
God of love, we pray for Bud at this moment. You can see the emptiness and loneliness that has stunned him when his wife died. For Tina, now facing the rest of her teenage years without her mother to advise her and share the struggles of growing up with, and for others here shocked by the death of a mother, family member and friend, we pray.
We cannot begin to grasp their sorrow, now let alone express it to you in words. Nevertheless, we bring them before you and ask for your sustaining help. Be to them just now an anchor, as the sea of their lives seems so tossed with storm. Be to them strength and courage and hope in the midst of despair. Fill the emptiness of their lives with your comforting presence and give them peace.
For all gathered here, our Father, we pray that in the solemn earnestness of this hour you will help us to concentrate our lives more fully to you so that we may live more bravely, follow you more closely, and love you more faithfully.
All this we ask in the name of him who died and rose again and ever lives with you, even Jesus Christ our Lord.
AMEN
Almost 60 years ago, Beatrice Eleanor was born as the youngest of a family of eight. Today her only surviving sister Eva Green is here to mourn her death. Eva remembers the typical joys and struggles of brothers and sisters growing up together.
Bea left home and ventured south, there she gave birth to four children; James and Chris who are here today and Robbie and Jerry who were unable to attend. Returning to Brantford, Bea met Edwin Muskett and they were married 15 years ago. Soon Tina was added to their family. Shortly after they moved from their West St. home to their present home on Cayuga Street where they have made many close friends with their neighbors.
I first met Tina 1½ years ago when I became the pastor of her church. I have affectionately called her ‘Bubbles’ and she in returns calls me ‘Pasta”. She was anxious to introduce me to her parents and her big brother James.
Upon entering their home, one of the first things you notice is Bea’s collection of teapots. As Bea collected, Bud added shelves to accommodate them until he was at a loss as to where to find more space in their home. – What a beautiful symbol of hospitality is the teapot! Around a cup of tea or coffee, friendships have often been cemented; hurts have been shared and troubles lessened. Many people have said that this is to be true of Mrs. Muskett – especially by Tina’s friends. They have found in her a person they could confide in, a person who cared, and a person who made them feel special.
On one of my visits, Bea told of her desire to turn a vacant in the neighborhood into a baseball diamond. She was concerned about the kids on the street who seemed to have nothing to do. This was typical of her concern for people and especially for teens.
One of those teens said to me that she couldn’t begin to express Mrs. Muskett’s kindness; it would be an essay of several pages in length. Tina wants us to know that her mother was loving, caring, kind and thoughtful.
A couple of months ago, Mr. and Mrs. Muskett expressed their concern to me over who would look after Tina if anything should happen to them. Now in their moment of crises, I sense the answer – the neighbors. They have been so helpful to Bud and the family this week. It has been a sign of neighborliness they have received from the Muskett’s and are now returning. The loving actions of the neighbors speak more profoundly than I ever could of the kind of person Mrs. Muskett has been.
Her recent illness came so suddenly it was hard to comprehend its seriousness. The skill of doctors and nurses joined with the prayer of the church and the determination of Mrs. Muskett slowly the difficult battle towards recovery began and it seemed as if we were to succeed. The bright rays of hope makes the shock of today more unbelievable and unbearable.
We want once more to speak with you.
To hold you.
To have you hold us.
We want to properly say ‘goodbye’.
Thank you, Bea, for 15 special years of married life.
Thanks, Mom, for teaching me about life.
Thanks friend, we won’t forget you.
How your momentoes around us seem to mock us with your unreachable presence.
WE FEEL SO ALONE
In our grief, we search inside ourselves for answers.
We question pain and death and life itself. We turn to friends and ask “why?” We search the heavens and the seeming silence is so deafening. WE FEEL SO EMPTY AND DESERTED.
The bible tells us of similar struggle. Another person asked the same question in his grief and pain. Friends tried to comfort him with their understanding of life, pain, suffering, death and sorrow. Most of us are familiar with the story of Job. At the end of a long struggle, Job is met by God in a storm. The creator came to the created and reminded him of the infinite, limitless, vastness of God’s unsearchable being; far beyond man’s comprehension and understanding and therefore even his questioning. His ways are beyond our ways. Still God wants to relate with His creation in a personal, meaningful and helpful relationship. His love is demonstrated through His Son Jesus Christ. Through His death, Jesus provides a way for us to come to God. It remains for us to take the humble step of faith and trust toward God. He desires to comfort us like a loving Father caring for His child.
Today, in the depths of our suffering, let us turn away in despair from the source of life, but struggle until we discover the joy of sharing the Divine life whom to know is life eternal.
Let us bow to receive benediction.
“May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.”
In the name of Father
And of the son
And of the Holy Ghost
AMEN.
Pastor Ron Humphries
