Last Friday was a tough day – the first funeral I have been to for a same-aged friend, who absolutely should not have died so soon. Especially having only been diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumour, just one all too short precious week before she passed away.
But Louize's funeral was magnificent. A grand word for what was indeed a grand kind of day to celebrate her life. So many people that some had to stand outside listening to the service on speakers, while others were online from homes and holidays as well. And what a service – the stand out memory will be the two of Louize's choirs who stood at the front – just three from each choir due to restrictions – but sang so beautifully. There is something very moving about adult women singing to honour an adult woman who been lost to us to us all. The word 'shalom' that they repeated is still floating in my head.
And her partner Jeremy spoke amazingly too. God knows how, on a day like that, but his words were both honest ('of course we bickered') but also such a loving tribute to Louize and the decades-long relationship they had since meeting at college. Curly and Fi McNae also spoke – both brilliantly – on the nature of friendship and all the things that Louize was to all her very different groups of friends.
Putting the sprig of heather on Louize's woven casket at the end was the last goodbye to a really top person, a friend I've known for nearly 25 years and someone who clearly had left her positive mark on so many lives.
It is an incredible tribute to the strength of the Added Value bond that there were about 15 of us there in person, as well as some of the Space Doctors crowd, where Louize often flexed her quallie fingers, since moving to her beloved sea.
Fi hosted us back at her house, where the Hullaballoo choir gathered in greater numbers to sing for us and Louize again. The sun was shining, the vegan food was out in full Hove style (with some chicken for the Londoners!) and it was as good a send off as you can get.
Well done to all who made the day happen, and managed to hold it together throughout. We raised a glass to Louize back at the cottage that evening, and she is still very much in my thoughts x