Rest in Peace...

Last week, our community lost a vibrant, effervescent, young woman - a wife, mother, daughter, sister, sister-in-law, aunt, cousin, neice, work colleague, friend and best friend. She was just just 41 years old and leaves behind her childhood sweeheart husband and 3 daughters aged 15, 12 and 9. She was a community minded person, a doer, a top chick, a good sort and a lovely lass. She was the life of the party, she loved dancing on tables with her friends at the footy club. I've just been to her funeral where I think perhaps 600 people farewelled her, among the pine trees, tossed by high winds, in a small town cemetery. She worked for us in our business, years ago before she had children. She was loyal, honest, fun, respected and down to earth. Whenever we met up around town, she had a big smile and a G'day, how are ya going? It is so unfair and sad that she has died. I will always remember her when I see red and white balloons (her beloved footy/netball club colours) - children at the funeral let balloons go in the air. Her funeral card had the following verse chosen by her family.

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You can shed a tear that she is gone, or you can smile because she has lived.
You can close your eyes and pray that she'll come back, or you can open your eyes and see all that she has left.
Your heart can be empty because you can't see her, or you can be full of the love that you shared.
You can turn your back on tomorrow and live in yesterday, or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.
You can remember her and only that she is gone, or you can cherish the memory of her, and let it live on.
You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn your back, or can do what perhaps she'd want, open your eyes, smile, love....and go on.
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Rest in peace, Ange!