The Journey Of A Lifetime Continues...

Today I received the final edit of Gavin's funeral service.  We are so, so grateful to former co-workers and friends of Ed's from Accenture for arranging the professional videography for both the visitations and the entire funeral mass.  Videotaping a funeral might seem a bit... odd.  But I have documented every moment of Gavin's life - both the good and the bad.  This felt so normal to me.  I also didn't want us to forget the details that grief can sometimes bury - the people that came, the touching moments, the eulogies, the music and the flowers.  But more than that, I wanted yet another keepsake for Brian.  This video will be visible proof that his brother touched so many lives.  And he'll see himself there, lest he forget his big brother's funeral when he's grown.

The video is 49 minutes and 45 seconds, so I don't expect many of you to watch the entire thing.  But if you do, there are a few things I wanted to point out so you understand the meaning.  Everything in this service was specifically chosen by us.  I'm attaching the program below as it looked in the design phase (all the photos ended up being in color).  In the program you'll see that the eulogies were given by me... Miss Sara... and my siblings, Tom and Bean, who are Gavin's Godparents.  My brother Mike and my oldest niece, Emily, did the readings.  Ed wrote and delivered the "Prayers of the Faithful."  If you read the personal note from us on page 11, you'll see that we included all of Gavin's therapists and aides that helped him over his entire life.  From his very first therapist, Patti... to his very last teacher, Miss Megan... we wanted them all to have a special part in the service.  Our home helpers brought up the gifts... and each therapist and teacher of Gavin's carried up a single flower to place in front of his photos.  It was so important to me to include them in a big way.  Over the years, I've heard a lot of "I don't know how you do it!" or "You're so amazing" or "Gavin has come so far because of you!"  I never felt that was totally accurate.  Ed and I both feel we stood on a LOT of shoulders since the day Gavin was born - and we owe all of these women so much for helping us help Gavin.  

The other special things worth mentioning are the donated items.  This program was put together and printed out by Meghan Krevolin from Linked Forever Photography - and she accepted donations from many of my readers who generously wanted to contribute to make it so special.  We were so moved when we heard that.  Also, the gorgeous flowers you will see in the video were generously donated by Gene McGonagle from Ambler Flower Shop.  He went above and beyond - even clipping branches from our cherry blossom tree in the front yard (which was planted in memory of Darcy) to include her in the tribute to her brother.  Unbelievable.  The mass was said by Father James Kelly from Epiphany of Our Lord in Plymouth Meeting, PA.  I was baptized in this church...we were married by Father Kelly in this church...and Father Kelly baptized both of our boys in this church.  We were so grateful that he agreed to say the mass and he did such a wonderful job with his homily.

(If you click on this first photo, you can click through all the pages and you'll see them larger)

Finally, we want to thank Cinemacake Filmmakers for putting this video together so beautifully.  They do such incredible work (as you'll see on their website).  In a few days they will get me our video from the viewing the night before the funeral.  In that video you'll see all of the special touches - the photo boards, mementos and more.

Thank you for watching...for honoring Gavin's memory from your own home tonight...and for loving our little family.  Because of all of you, we feel surrounded every day by love.  Thank you.