Six days after my Aunt Phyllis Ahlich's passing, the family and friends gathered to do the cultural things we do here in America. A funeral. Yesterday was an occasion for us to experience all in one day what we either put off, avoid, chastise, repress, deny, fear or simply shelter ourselves from.
An occasions to be open to life, sadness and memories. And to acknowledge the passing of time. The passing of a loved one. The contiued passing of our own life and those around us.
I know neither words or pictures can capture the spirits that joined together to celebrate Phyllis' life. But I wanted to capture the hugeness of what can happen in a room in a few hours during our cultural ceremony, the funeral. The crying, singing, reciting, story telling, poetry reading, euligizing, hugging, displaying of pictures, praying, reminiscing, reflecting, smiling, laughing and loving we share at a time and setting like this.
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Barb (Ahlich) Crosby, Carol Ann, and Katie Crosby
& Sally, and Frank Ahlich |
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| Bob McNamee |
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| Mark Ahlich with his nephew, Alec and Carol Howdyshell |
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| Brian & Kristie Altonen with Nancy and Alec Altonen |
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| Mom hugging Nancy (Ahlich) |
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| Me, Pat, Mark (Ahlich) and Tim |
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| Mom and Jim |
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| Barb and Kristine |
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| Billy Ahlich with friend |
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| Jimmy Ahlich with niece, Erika Ahlich |
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| Barb Hugging a Friend |
At the end of Aunt Phyllis's life-celebration I sang Que Sera Sera, by Jay Livingston. After the first chorus I didn't have to sing anymore. Everyone joined together while I played the guitar to say goodbye to Phyllis by singing:
Que Sera Sera, whatever will be, will be. The future's not ours to see, Que Sera Sera. What will be, will be.
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