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My Ideal Irish Wake: Louise Smith
Louse Smith is the winner of the 2007 Richard Lamb New
Traditions Ideal Irish Wake contest. Entrants were asked to describe how they
would like to be remembered, in the style of an Irish wake. Ms. Smith won a
Celtic Cross obelisk, and generously donated it to the
Maryhaven
Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Glenview, Illinois. Her winning entry is
below.
Step dancers at the front of the funeral home - welcoming my friends and
family. Music inside: U2, Afro Celt Sound System, Van Morrison and
Dubliners. This is a "wet" affair, with irish coffee (traditional, coffee,
Irish whiskey and whip creme), Jameson, ale and Irish fare: Donnelly sausage
and bacon for an Irish mixed grill, soda bread, assorted Irish cheeses such as
Dubliner brand of cheddar, Caschel Blue Cheese, etc. Each person attending
will receive a gift small Waterford "Cheers" shot glass with my name and
DOB, DOD.
Flowers will ALL be donated to the Maryhaven nursing home following service. Specific requested flowers: no roses but instead traditional Irish wild flowers with shamrock greens to include; daisies, Iris, wild thyme, Sheeps bit, St. Johns wort, hardy fuchsia. Video of my father's celebrated funeral service, and if timely, my brother's videos and my video will be shown. My video will include child home video, stills of life accomplishments, family photos, friends and will be edited in a "quick cut" style lasting no more than 8 minutes and very upbeat. Donations will be requested to be collected and the proceeds will go to a funeral fund trust in my name. It will be managed by the Maryhaven catholic nursing home - and pay for funeral services for those residents who die and have no family or money to pay for a celebration of their life wake of their own. Speeches from those attending will be improvised and a pre-appointed Catholic deacon. The final blessing of the evening:
May the road rise to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face.
And rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the hollow of His hand.
Shuttle
transportation to and from will be provided to everyone who has
had "enough" to drink :)
My ashes, in your urn shall be
interned at St. Mary's Lake Forest, IL next
to my father.