Today I wish to dedicate my words to one person I was blessed to know. 4 years ago he was the first one to say to me Welcome when I walked into my office for the first time. He stayed my friend ever since. We used to laugh often. To tease each other fondly and pull practical jokes at others. He shared his troubles with me and helped me with mine…He said he likes me because I always smile. I said I like him because he makes me smile non-stop. I will always smile when I think of him.
Two weeks ago he had a stroke. I saw him last Saturday at hospital. It happened to be the last time. He was feeling better and we giggled a lot, disturbing others in the ward. Same night he died from another heart attack.
Today we went to his funeral. It was a moving service, more of celebration of his life…it was amazing to see how many people he touched in one or another way. About 150 came to say their goodbye. Our director was there. As all of our staff too…the least we could do for him, really. He would’ve been gobsmacked… I don’t think he ever realized just how he was loved by many.
He was just a driver…somebody who daily rides our office’s minibus, a short dull route to and from the city center…how anyone could be so cheerful doing such a boring job?! Yet it was always a joy ride with him. He was just a driver…yet he was like a member of our team. I cannot imagine my office without him wandering around in his spare time, talking to us, joining our tea breaks, laughing… We had our times together…good times…times of sharing the good things and the bad things…he was just a driver, but to me he was more then that.
As we said our goodbyes and the minister said what he meant to say, I hope that Steve’s soul was looking upon us and smiled and hummed along to his favorite song of Jim Reeves that was chosen to play in the chapel:
Precious mem'ries unseen angels sent from somewhere to my soul
How they linger ever near me as the sacred past unfold
Precious mem'ries how they linger how they ever flood my soul
In the stillness of the midnight precious sacred scenes unfold
As I travel on life's pathway know not what the years may hold
And as I ponder hope grows fonder precious mem'ries flood my soul…
Two weeks ago he had a stroke. I saw him last Saturday at hospital. It happened to be the last time. He was feeling better and we giggled a lot, disturbing others in the ward. Same night he died from another heart attack.
Today we went to his funeral. It was a moving service, more of celebration of his life…it was amazing to see how many people he touched in one or another way. About 150 came to say their goodbye. Our director was there. As all of our staff too…the least we could do for him, really. He would’ve been gobsmacked… I don’t think he ever realized just how he was loved by many.
He was just a driver…somebody who daily rides our office’s minibus, a short dull route to and from the city center…how anyone could be so cheerful doing such a boring job?! Yet it was always a joy ride with him. He was just a driver…yet he was like a member of our team. I cannot imagine my office without him wandering around in his spare time, talking to us, joining our tea breaks, laughing… We had our times together…good times…times of sharing the good things and the bad things…he was just a driver, but to me he was more then that.
As we said our goodbyes and the minister said what he meant to say, I hope that Steve’s soul was looking upon us and smiled and hummed along to his favorite song of Jim Reeves that was chosen to play in the chapel:
Precious mem'ries unseen angels sent from somewhere to my soul
How they linger ever near me as the sacred past unfold
Precious mem'ries how they linger how they ever flood my soul
In the stillness of the midnight precious sacred scenes unfold
As I travel on life's pathway know not what the years may hold
And as I ponder hope grows fonder precious mem'ries flood my soul…