I’ve just come back from a funeral of a friend … held in tight, no tears (except for maybe one drop when his son was giving the eulogy)… but it was quite sad.

William was someone i’d gotten to know ever since i moved to the city, like close to 15 years ago. I’d usually go to church on my own and he was one for the first few people to extend his hand and introduce himself, and tried his level best to make me join the church BEC (to which till today sadly, i still havent joined).

Over the years, i’d gotten use to his smiley face at church, always ready with a smile and a helping hand. He’d drop my place every month, sending me the monthly newsletter and we’ll catch up, over the main gate.

He’d go round calling me “girlfriend” or “sister”… depending on whatever mood he was in. Even his two teenage sons got into the act, especially the younger of the two who never seemed to give up making fun of me, whenver he could.

During bible class last year, for some strange reason i ended up in his group. Coffee and food was always provided for, thanks to him. So that helped me stay a wake and fill me up cos i was always rushing from work!!! Thank goodness!

Last two years, he started attending morning prayers and mass… to which one day i asked, “What’s with the change?” … and he answered, “praying for something special” … good for him… from here, morning breakfast with him, Philo and Father became the norm, especially on public holidays. For me, the lone ranger, it was always a good time to get up to date on church goss heeheehee..

And whenever i needed help or go thru blur moments, i’d just send him an sms and he’ll always help.  The last i spoke to him was at morning mass about 2 weeks ago when we were all joking around after mass as usual, and because he was not entirely correctly dressed as the reader and giving all sorts of excuses, i just called him “loyar buruk” and we were all laughing. He’d always ask me how i was doing at his preggers stage, and i always said, “one day at a time la…”. Oh well… such is life!

So when i found out on Wednesday afternoon (All Saints Day 2011) that he had collapsed and died, it came as a shock. I actually asked, “Is it our william?!”… sadly, yes. Everyone was in state of shock. And i can imagine what his immediate family was going through.

Though i could not attend the wake in my present state, i made sure i went to the funeral this morning. And it was a really good one. He was loved by many, and the attendance at the funeral really showed how the community would miss this dear soul. The choir was in full force, the community was present, there were 4 priests (!) and majority of the altar boys were all there in their show of support in the last leg of his journey. Even Father chocked twice in his homily.

Yes, i was all there, being clear eyed up to the point when his younger son did the eulogy, and yes, even my eyes filled with tears (but it was quickly wiped away!).

And all the while i was thinking, i wonder how are they going to keep up after his death as he was the sole breadwinner. He did everything, and that was essentially, William’s style. Being the MAN in the family, and even the fact that he’d had 4 blockages in his arteries (70-80%) as we found out today, he never mentioned this to a single soul. It came out from the post mortem report. Hence, he was a ticking time bomb.

So really, today i wish him all the best as he journeys towards the gates of Heaven, and pray that he would win over and be great friends St Peter there and all the saints with his jovial and sincere nature.

“Eternal rest grant unto Him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace. Amen.”