Memorial at a Chapel by the Beach
When a family chooses to honour a loved one, every decision becomes a thread in the fabric of their remembrance. For Jacqui’s family, each detail of her ceremony was thoughtfully chosen — from the music to the flowers, to the setting itself. They took care of every arrangement, crafting a beautiful, heartfelt farewell held at the chapel in Aanuka Beach Resort.
As the ceremony began, I had the honour of opening by acknowledging why this particular chapel by the sea had been chosen.
In this post, I share why this location was so meaningful, and how the closing words and the words of remembrance captured the essence of Jacqui’s spirit — with tenderness, depth, and a deep sense of love. They chose a beautiful prayer to close the ceremony.
Welcome
“Welcome, family and friends, as we gather to celebrate and honour the life of Jacqui, also lovingly known as, Ninnie, Mum, Ma and My Jack — a remarkable woman whose presence touched and shaped the lives of so many. Jacqui loved to bring people together, and although today carries an element of sadness and loss the family hopes that through memories shared you will be reminded of the love, strength, and countless moments of joy she brought to all that were blessed to know her. Aanuka was the natural choice when selecting the venue for today as it embodies many of the qualities that Jacqui cherished. The chapel’s cosy, welcoming and peaceful ambiance is reminiscent of her dream cottage, her perfect location in which to rest.”
Closing Tribute
Jacqui crafted her own spiritual path, not bound by formal education but guided by personal belief. Often seeking connection with those who have passed, she navigated life with a light-hearted openness to accepting guidance and reassurance from her guardian angels and loved ones no longer with us. Believing that one day they will be reunited for eternity. Her faith was evident in her actions—the care she provided, the love she shared, and the community she built around her.
Throughout her life, Jacqui grappled with contradictions—exuding confidence yet harbouring insecurities, being the life of the party while also displaying moments of shyness. Her expressive demeanour, characterised by a smile and telling eyebrow raises, made her emotions transparent to those around her.
In her final year, Jacqui confronted her greatest challenge with unparalleled courage. Drawing upon a lifetime of experiences, she faced adversity head-on, a testament to her resilience. Confronted with her mortality, she remained strong, shedding lifelong insecurities, and focusing on what truly mattered. Unlike many, she did not fear death, she was at peace with the thought of passing, treasuring the life she had lived. The only fear she held was that of leaving her loved ones behind.
Jacqui exhibited astonishing strength, both physically and mentally, yet would crumble at the mere thought of her grandchildren. She would confront an intruder, or behead a redbelly, without a second thought when it came to protecting her family, yet running through the rain and risking it wrecking her hair was absolutely not an option she was willing to accept. She could easily be mistaken for a beauty queen and spent many an hour maintaining her appearance, yet never hesitated to get stuck in during renovation projects, undertaking demolition work and mixing concrete. She took pride in her countless house painting projects. She was often found high on scaffolding or a ladder painting those hard to reach areas. A natural risk-taker, she embraced challenges with resilience and optimism, often remarking, “It is what it is.”
Jacqui’s fearless nature shone brightly within her horsemanship, her effortless ability to rein in their power, riding bareback like Lady Godiva, taking hurdles in her stride without hesitation.
A woman of many talents, her untapped potential was apparent. Her natural ability to create spaces filled with function, class, warmth and character were unmatched. Watching her pour over her drafting paper, ruler, pencil and eraser in hand, crafting floorplan after floorplan of homes that dreams are made of, designs indicative of a career architect.
Jacqui would often selflessly attend to tasks beyond her duties, offering comfort and care to those in need, her compassionate nature leading her actions on a daily basis. This reflected in her roles within her working life, providing care and service to the elderly, connecting personally to those in her care, remembering the personal preferences and intricacies of each and every person she encountered, down to the amount of sugars they liked in their afternoon cuppa. She supported others with all that she had, she felt deeply and gave her time wholeheartedly.
Her dedication as a mother was unparalleled. The ultimate cheerleader, she encouraged and supported her daughters relentlessly. The first to celebrate their accomplishments, and always there to scoop them up and comfort them in their moments of sickness or loss. The role of ‘Ma’ was one that she took very seriously, whipping out the Women’s Weekly Birthday Cake book each year and spending the entire day baking and creating the masterpiece of choice. Toasty towels and pyjamas by the fire, electric blankets to warm up the beds in the winter months. Hand crafted bedding and curtains for the nursery, in her favourite Laura Ashley printed fabrics. Shopping adventures at Eastgardens, Mother and Mini Me’s in matching outfits from head to toe.
Words of Remembrance
Jacqui’s legacy is one of loyalty, commitment, and an unwavering dedication to family. Jacqui’s unique blend of strength, vulnerability, and unique humour will forever be remembered and cherished by all who knew her. May you remember Jacqui not just for her departure but for the indelible imprint she left on your hearts. May you honour her precious life. May Jacqui rest in peace.
Offering of a Red Rose
I shared a few lines about why the red rose was so important to Jacqui followed by the invitation:
“You may wish to use this reflection time to offer a silent blessing, or a heartfelt goodbye as you remember Jacqui.”
The family came forward to place the rose on the front table near Jacqui’s ashes.
Closing Prayer
Jacqueline, go forth on your journey;
In the joy that created you and delights in you;
In the love that surrounds you;
And in the peace that awaits you.
May you go forth under the strength of heaven,
Light of sun, radiance of moon;
May you go forth with the splendour of fire,
Speed of lightening, swiftness of wind:
May you go forth supported by the depth of sea,
Stability of earth, firmness of rock;
May you be surrounded and encircled,
Above, below and about,
With the deep love that binds us all.
Amen
