The Funeral

 

It was a sad day in Garner – today was Cale’s funeral and 466 members of the community attended the funeral in our church that holds 350.

https://www.country-threads-chicken-scratch.com

There was probably an additional  30+ workers which included Margaret and me.  Not all of you will be interested in this list unless you’re a church musician.  This is the list of the songs we played as piano/organ duets.

Build my mansion

All because of God’s amazing grace

The love of God

Mansion over the hilltop

Precious memories

I want Jesus more tan anything

It is well with my soul

How great thou art

What a friend we have in Jesus

Jesus loves me

The family processed to My Chains Are Gone – Amazing Grace

solo was “Well Done”

Family recessed to Day By Day

Softly and Tenderly

Trust and obey

Precious Lord

He leadeth me

(I know all these should be capitalized but no time.)

I hope this wasn’t in bad taste but I always pay special attention to the music.

And yes, we had Tater Tot casserole and strawberry fluff and bars for lunch.

 

Such a sad occasion.

When I got home I went to the barn and checked on everybody.  Thought you needed a “tribe” update.  They’re still in the barn but it’s going to get nice by the weekend and I hope to let them outside again.  And yes, all 15 are still here!

Here’s a couple more 5’s.

The last two photos are my #7 that I’m now anxious to work on.  Are you working on yours?  I think I’m too tired to work on it tonight.  There’s always tomorrow, right?

40 thoughts on “The Funeral

  1. Kathy in western ny

    It’s very very hard to say goodbye to a young person. I am glad you were there with beautiful music and support to your fellow townspeople. It takes a while to heal but going out to the barn and seeing your living critters in your care must have given you some comfort. Hope you get some good sleep tonight and remember the gift you have of another day tomorrow.

  2. Susan the Farm Quilter

    I sing with the praise team at my little church, so I appreciate seeing the selections sung today. Some golden oldies as well as some I have never heard of, but will have to check out. Funerals are especially difficult for the young, I’m so sorry you had to have this one today. Obviously he was a well-loved member of your community. Now begins the difficult time for his family as they try to figure out this new road they are on. Praying for them.

  3. Angie from Baltimore

    He looked so you but much loved. The songs played had to give comfort for those folks there. May he Rest In Peace and prayers for his family and friends

  4. Cheryl in St. Paul

    Thank you for listing the music choices. I, too, am a church musician and so I know what goes into choosing and playing for funeral services. It is always my prayer that the music will, in even a small way, bring comfort and peace to all who listen. It is such an honor to minister in this way. Bless you for all you do.

    1. CountryThreads Post author

      While deciding the order of the songs, we played Jesus Loves Me last in hope that the well known children’s song would portray the title and touch people at a young boy’s funeral.

      1. Teresa

        Aww, that touched me just reading it, Mary. I think doing, Jesus Loves Me, at the end was a lovely choice. God bless you.

  5. Diane Bauer

    I’m glad for Cale’s family that you were there with beautiful music to help them through today. I cannot begin to imagine their pain.

    Glad you have warmer weather coming so the chicks can be out a bit yet this fall!

    I’m plowing through my #7. Not my favorite. I have four of the seven rows (columns???) done. That’s progress! I’m not one for repairs or mending, so I’m really not a fan of taking up someone else’s project and trying to finish it. I had hoped to get it done today, but couldn’t stay with it long enough to do that. Maybe tomorrow. I will be looking forward to getting back to something bright and pretty!!

  6. Diane in Maryland

    I feel so sad for your community and Cale’s family. So many prayers are being said for all of you. This is just tragic.

  7. Kathy Hanson

    What a sad funeral it must have been! So sorry for the family and for you too!
    The chicks are growing fast!

  8. CJ

    So hard to endure funerals for those who have touched so many others.
    Music selection lingers in my soul, hard to choose, lovely words of meaning.

    Those little chicks are so little any more.
    Finishes look wonderful.
    Fabric to cut after we go to get flu shots tomorrow.
    Ads were closed.

  9. Kathy Schwartz in SW MN

    I think the family and the congregation was blessed with beautiful music for the funeral. It is a challenge to pick music for a funeral. I play church organ and I am rather appalled that some play the exact same thing for each and every funeral. The music should reflect the person’s life or the request of the family. Do you both play the same music (like from a hymnal) at the same time, or do you have special music for piano/organ? (First the piano has the “melody” and then the organ, and then it comes together, type of thing.) There is not much piano/organ literature out there. Enjoyed the photos.

    1. CountryThreads Post author

      We play piano/organ arrangements – not just the hymn but you’re right, not much out there but we have accumulated quite s bit over the years. We’ve been playing together for almost 35 years. A couple years ago a small church near us closed permanently and they gave us a ton of books – can’t tell you how excited we were to get them! You can never have too much music! Right?

  10. Sharon Lowy

    So sad. He was so young and looked so hale and hearty. His poor family. Nice so many came to say goodbye. I have no words and I know the music was beautiful.. 🙏🙏🙏

    Love the pictures in the barn.

  11. Karen Gaither

    Mary, praying for your community for losing such a young man. Thank you for sharing the music list for the funeral. I am not musical, but do love music at church. It is always nice to see what others play. At my church, they do have lists that you can select from that can be sung during services. Family doesn’t select what is played while people are entering usually, but with a nice list like this I could.

  12. Jo in Wyoming

    There is something about music that lifts the heart and starts healing the soul. Bless you for giving this family music.
    I love the chickens and that big HIPS is so up my alley.
    Your new #7 is a little on the wild side for you. It looks interesting.

  13. Beryl in Owatonna

    Beautiful list of music. It has me in tears. I love the ‘old’hymns, they say so much. Will be praying for peace and comfort for his family and his many friends. Tattertot ‘hotdish’…it is so good! I am always teased about mine because I line all of the tattertots in rows! I think it is easier to serve… you can get even servings that way. Just me! I am glad it is warming up for a couple of days too! I’ ll bet Mama hen will like it too! All of your other babies too.
    I got a Christmas panel put together for my cousin’s wife and the top of a table topper ready to quilt. I will finish it tomorrow. It is supposed to be rainy and cool again tomorrow. The sun did shine today 🌞🌞 Sleep well tonight. You are in my prayers

  14. Charlotte S

    Great list of music. I love all of those hymns. My heart goes out to the family.
    Beautiful quilts and yes I’m working on my #7. I have to sew 16 more buttons on it. Uggg!!

  15. Sandra Goddard

    The songs were wonderful. Some I can hear my aunt playing on the old piano in our little Sunday school do many years ago. Sweet memories. Thanks for sharing. May the young man know he was truly loved.

  16. Mrs. Goodneedle

    Thank you for the tribe update— I can just hear them cheep-cheeping in my mind.

    Heartbreakingly sad for Cale’s family, I know they drew great comfort from the many, many who assembled for his service; the music chosen is especially meaningful and beautiful. 😔

  17. Janet M

    Thank you, Mary, for sharing your musical selections with us. I am a church organist as well and know the time
    and effort that goes into preparing piano/organ duets. What a wonderful selection of music! Many of my favorites. You are lucky to have all these arrangements, Yes, they are not always available. Your church is so blessed to have both of you. I am sure the family found your music comforting at such a difficult time. How sad to lose such a nice young man.

  18. Paula S.

    How tragic to lose such a young person to death! The music would help ease some of the pain the family and others are going through. What a beautiful gift you have given them.

    On a lighter note – I love seeing what you’ve been working on and seeing the picture of the “tribe”. I’m glad they are all hale and hearty.

  19. Penny C Maryland

    Funerals are always sad, but even more so when it is someone so young. Your music was touching to me and must have been consoling to all. Love the number 5’s and can’t wait to see you #7 finished.

  20. Carolyn Rector

    Prayers for Cale’s family and the Garner community as a whole. It’s sad to lose one so young. Glad you could be a help with your music. 35 years of blessing your community with music. I am amazed. You are a blessing to many.

  21. Launa

    Beautiful songs assortment! Very sad to think when a young life is lost. Sending prayers to Cale’s family and many he had touched thru the years.

    Thanks for the pictures, Mary. It’s a sunny 30o morning here, but we could have a bit of snow later this week.

  22. Gloria B.

    May God bring comfort to Cale’s family and strength to your Garner community to continue to support them. Your music was a blessing I’m sure.

    What is your #7 looks like a challenging but exciting stash buster.

  23. Holly in Two Harbors

    So sad about Cale–a life lost way too soon. This just happened in my son’s community in Esko, MN where Jackson Pfister, fifteen, a football player, collapsed at a football game and died last Friday. It’s just unimaginable what his family his going through.

    1. Diane in Maryland

      A sadness we cannot imagine. Another terrible tragedy. We will pray for Jackson’s family and your community. So very sorry.

  24. Cinders

    My heart goes out to you, your church congregation-family and the immediate family, this is a lot to take in to lose someone so young and so quickly. The choices of music were fantastic. I have not seen that many songs sung at a funeral before but I feel the music and the words are very therapeutic and such a beautiful way to express your love for their loss.
    Thank you for sharing so many things with us. The UFO projects everyone is completing is making me get ready to tackle my UFO’s as well my yard work is done now! Love your blog and updates!

    1. CountryThreads Post author

      Cynthia – don’t want you to misunderstand- the songs were played on the piano/organ. Only the first and last songs as processional and recessional were actually sung.

  25. Felicia Hamlin

    I haven’t been able to read your posts for such a long time, it is nice to finally find new posts. Who was the young man who died? I recognize most of the hymns and they were good choices. It is nice to have the comfort of music. How are your knees? Take care, Mary.

  26. CAROLYN BARNETT

    Christian hymns are like lullabies wispered into our hearts by God, reminding us that He loves us so much despite the ugly things we have to go through on earth. Can anyone else hear it? I thought I heard Jesus say “Well done good and faithful Mary, for your service to Him during this young man’s funeral…

    1. CountryThreads Post author

      Carolyn – I hope that’s what I’m doing! It really is my service and pleasure. The vocal solo was called Well Done and those were the sentiments contained in the words of the song. I always say that members of a church must work together and everyone should do what THEY can do. I cannot teach Sunday School or Bible study, attend various retreats, be a mentor BUT I can play the piano and that’s why it’s my job.

  27. Ruth

    Mary (now that I know the names are reversed beneath the photo on this blog), what a long set of songs for you to play during the funeral. I am sure everyone appreciated hearing familiar and new songs to support their feelings at this sad time.
    I am glad for the archives on this blog, as that is where I can go to read the ones that stop showing up automatically. “Sewing in the Wee Hours” sat at the top of my queue for several days before I remembered I could check the archives and read recent posts from there. I have no idea why this happens.
    I love seeing the Tribe of chickens!! What a good mama hen! I love seeing what everyone is finishing up, too. I am making progress, step by step, little by little, on my black and white quilt.

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