Originally Posted by
92blue
So, my dad 79blue had his funeral yesterday.
I think I did my best to plan a send off worthy of such a great man. My dad had all the special treatment from military funeral extras through to special treatment from the ambulance service.
Dad had flowers with sprays of blue to represent his love for Cardiff city, his relationship with you all over the years and green and yellow for the other huge part of his life. The ambulance service. He was dressed as he had told us to when he was gone. In his best suit, top shirt button undone to not irritate him.
Dad upon arrival to the crematorium was escorted to the doors by one of the fast response cars and greeted by not only family but a sea of green, the sheer amount of paramedics that had shown up for him brought me to a flood of tears. Dad would have bee. Touched to have seen so many that he'd worked with over the years there to say goodbye. Near where he laid, was the service flag. A fitting tribute for him from them. Made far more touching with my choice of holding image. The gofundme photo of dad by the car.
The turnout was amazing, my uncles eulogy with notes from the one dad started made everything perfect along with my youngest sister and I standing together as we read our speeches. Hopefully my choice of entrance song didn't break people too much. I chose James blunts song monsters since dad always made it clear how he felt about the hand he was dealt and felt it more fitting than ever seeing as him leaving us was indeed his choice in the end.
While I chose the visual tribute photos with my mother's blessing, she chose how do I live? By leann rimes for him. A song they danced to.
At least he still got to have a laugh with us leaving to another one bites the dust. A song I hope makes up for not doing his joke of standing up his coffin with him being like ooga booga to everyone. (Sorry dad I don't think we can afford that many people's lifetime Therapy sessions.) Baring in mind, this being directly after the regimental prayer and last post. What a way to break the sadness and tension with the end of the service.
I just wanted you all to know we gave 79blue a royal send off. Soon his ashes will be home with us until we have better weather to finally bury him.
I also wanted you all to know, my husband showed family and friends the threads of support to dad and condolences from you all showing them that even if dad never spoke much about it to them, he truly had the most wonderful support and love from all of you. His fellow bluebirds.
I plan to eventually get a tattoo for dad on the arm he last gave me his special arm tap hug. A merge of the ambulance service and the bluebird to highlight two things that were well and truly fundamental in his life.
Thankyou all again for the love you showed my dad during his journey and the outpouring of love when you heard he'd gone. I guess this truly ends his story but it was an ending I hope that exceeded his expectations.