A Chook Raffle at the Memorial

In Memory of Kevin Cosgrove

Kevin was a larger than life character who was loved by his family and friends. The celebration that his wife, Pauline and daughter, Pip created was a perfect reflection of the man they loved.

The memorial service was held in the Raleigh Hall: simply decorated, and the catering was done by family and friends in the hall kitchen. There were tributes and stories that had us in stitches. They all had the same thread running through them—Kevin loved people and he made them laugh.

After the eulogy and the arranged and spontaneous tributes, one of the ladies, Liz, read a beautiful tribute and then pulled the winning ticket for the chook raffle in honour of Kevin. Pauline, his wife, had the winning ticket! I had been warned by the family beforehand that something a bit unusual would be happening. Everyone laughed.

For the photo reflection the family chose The Beatles song, In My Life and Spirit in the Sky by Norman Greenbaum

Prepare yourself you know it’s a must
Gotta have a friend in Jesus
So you know that when you die
He’s gonna recommend you
To the spirit in the sky
Gonna recommend you
To the spirit in the sky
That’s where you’re gonna go when you die
When you die and they lay you to rest
You’re gonna go to the place that’s the best

A few lines from the Words of Remembrance.

“Kevin was generous with his time and passion for looking after people, whether that was volunteering his time for a cause or in the school canteen, or helping someone around their home, or out in the field with the RFS or…. cooking up a storm in the kitchen. He will joyfully be remembered for his love of cooking, his obsession for foodie magazines and for his frozen chorizo’s and those famous first prize chutney’s.

Kevin will be remembered for his dry English humour and, at this point, he would probably, be wanting us to get onto the food and drink. Pauline said, that while his body is gone… his spirit would be around hassling for things to be done. Kevin, as you will know, could be a bit gruff and grumpy on the surface but, in truth, he was a real softy.

Thucydides, the classical author wrote, “What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others.” Kevin has woven his care, his humour and connection into your lives and he will be remembered with much love and admiration; and will be greatly missed.

May he rest in peace.”

The ceremony closed with There’ll be Days Like This by Van Morrison

When you don’t need to worry

There’ll be days like this

When no one’s in a hurry

There’ll be days like this

When all the parts of the puzzle

Start to look like they fit

Then I must remember

There’ll be days like this