To the family of Inal Gledson from Hazel MacKenzie
To Ina's great nephews & nieces,
I, too, would like to share a few of my most memorable reflections of Ina. As Alice has written of our family association I won't say much more other than she & my Aunt Mary created a warm friendship that endured through the decades. I'm so grateful to my aunt as, through her, I also developed a wonderful relationship with Ina. I'd received a letter from her the week before she died & had telephoned her on the Friday. She was her usual cheerful self. A last word of advice was that we should live each day to the fullest as we'll never know if it'll be our last.....Ina was a gifted storyteller & I will greatly miss her letters. She was such a delight. I'll always remember her quick walk, whistle, generous hospitality & positive attitude regarding life. She was so proud to have helped "the lads" during the wear by working in a munitions factory. And, was so pleased that the efforts of the bomb girls was finally recognized. I so wish that I could be with you tomorrow so we could share memories and pay tribute together to a wonderful, inspirational woman. Ina was an altogether wonderful person who has greatly influenced me.
I'd like to share a Gaelic prayer that I recently read. I believe it to be most appropriate.
Hugs to each of you and be assured that you and your families were very precious to Ina.
Hazel Calabrese MacKenzie
Gaelic Prayer called the Death Dirge
Thou goest home this night to thy home of winter,
To thy home of autumn, of spring, and of summer.
Thou goest home this night to thy perpetual home,
To thine eternal bed, to thine eternal slumber.
Sleep thou, sleep, and away with thy sorrow,
Sleep thou, sleep, and away with thy sorrow,
Sleep thou, sleep, and away with thy sorrow,
Sleep, thou beloved, in the Rock of the fold.
The shade of death lies upon thy face, beloved,
But the Jesus of grace has His hand round about thee;
In nearness to the Trinity farewell to thy pains,
Christ stands before thee and peace is in His mind.
Sleep, O sleep in the calm of all calm,
Sleep, O sleep in the guidance of guidance,
Sleep, O sleep in the love of all loves,
Sleep, O beloved, in the Lord of life,
Sleep, O beloved, in the God of life!
