On behalf of my family and myself I would like to thank everyone for their cards and kind messages of condolence on the death of my mother. It was a great comfort to us to know how much Mum was well liked and regarded. She moved from the village of Stedham to Bognor in 1987 and soon found a new spiritual home at St. Wilfrid's returning to the church where she had worshipped as a young working girl. Attending Sunday worship was always very important to her and she was sad when latterly ill health and disability prevented her from doing so. Her funeral service conducted by Fr. Bill was held in the beautiful village church of St. James in Stedham at which he gave the following address:
 

Homily

Saying our final goodbyes to one we have loved is never an easy time and today will undoubtedly be filled with sadness and grief at Anne's passing from us. But we have to hold fast to the faith that Anne proclaimed and lived, and see today not merely as an ending but also a glorious new beginning; not only experiencing our sadness but also giving thanks for the privilege of having shared in Anne's life.

The Beatitudes stand at the heart of Christ's teaching on discipleship. And so I was very glad when we found it was one of the passages that Anne had particularly marked in her own Bible, because it had actually been a passage that had come to my mind 4 A
as I was praying for Anne and the family after her death.

And here we are in the place where Anne was taught about God and grew to know, and love, and serve and worship him for so many years of her life. I am told that shortly after her move to Bognor, Anne was presented with an award for being the longest serving member of the WI in Stedham. And Anne always spoke of this village and church with a deep love and reverence. It was obvious to anyone who knew Anne that her faith was deeply central to the person that she was and I am glad that she managed to find another spiritual home with us at St Wilfrid's, somewhere she had worshipped already as a young girl working in a boy's school across the road.

What Anne learnt from and about God was the truth that is expressed in the Beatitudes, that God is with us in all circumstances from the happy to the sad, and is always blessing us. I know that for Anne it had been frustrating in these last few months no longer being at home or quite so independent and whilst there may have been a few weep moments for the most part Anne simply looked around her for the things she could give thanks for, for the ways in which God was blessing her. She told me herself how thankful she was to have her children around her supporting and caring for her and I know she was also thankful for the dignity and kindness she was shown in her final few days at Brecklands.

As I looked through the list of Blessed's I was wondering to myself which, was the most appropriate to Anne. She had mourned, the passing of Cyril and John and of all her brothers and sisters except Perce, and was also comforted by God. She must have been a peacemaker to survive growing up in a family of fifteen and raising four children, although I am told this peace did not extend to referees who made bad decisions, and then she would be blessed in hungering and thirsting for righteousness.

I think however that the one that is most suitable to Anne, and the one which we all should follow her in being, is poor in Spirit. The poor in spirit are those who know their need of God and their ultimate reliance on him, always looking to the action of God in their life, and seeing all things as his blessings no matter whether they are joyful or full of pain. I think that might be what people mean as they have come up to the family or myself in recent days and said what a lovely lady Anne was. She lived her life loving those around her and was loved deeply in return.

What better reason can we have for giving thanks this day than the example that Anne leaves us, and the promise we heard in the Holy Gospel just a moment ago, that the inheritance of those who like Anne are poor in spirit will be the Kingdom of heaven. Let us rejoice and be glad with Anne, praying with her and for her as she journeys to that reward prepared for her, as one who knew God and walked this life in his love and his blessings, and now is called back to his perfect love and peace to be with him forever.

Fr.Bill