Letter to Family and Friends

Letter to Family and Friends April 24 2017

Last Saturday I went to a funeral. I have been to many funerals here in France and of course in England. All of them of a similar pattern. As I sat there in a full room of silent mourners I wondered what my own funeral would be like.

Years ago I realised that funerals are for the living. But I don’t want people sitting in silence listening to people drone on about how sad it all is and how they are going to miss me  when they haven’t seen me for years.  Everybody dies. Fact. Death is a part of life.

So if anyone is interested this is what I propose when I die.

1. No funeral service.
2. My coffin should go straight to the crematorium.
3. I would like everyone who knew me, family and friends to plant a tree. Something that has blossom or an evergreen would be nice. If you don’t have room in your garden plant one in a local park or wood.
4. I would like someone in England to organise a Barn Dance in Kidsgrove Town Hall in aid of Douglas Macmillan.
5. I would like someone in Brittany to organise a Fez Noz / or Fez Diez in the Salle de Fete in Merillac in aid of the League de Cancer.

Some of this may cost and for this I have opened an account called  Freda’s Final Fling Fund.

I know that the rules in France about scattering ashes are quite complicated but if possible I would like mine to be scattered in the wood in my garden.

At the time of writing I do not suffer from (as far as I know) anything terminal (except life itself which is).

Of course this is what I would like and as I said before funerals are for the living.

Now I have to get this translated into French. Any offers?