December 6th, 2000

 Today was Delia's funeral. We let her go with love and dignity. 

She was taken to the church of Our Lady, Help of Christians in Mottingham, her parish. Our parish priest, Fr Kavanagh, came and did the service on Tuesday evening. Her request to spend a night in the church. All our families came in the evening. Fr John Kavanagh recited the Rosary. He said Delia had a great devotion to the Rosary. There were a lot of Delia's friends there. Members of her family did readings and the congregation sang hymns. 

On Wednesday morning, Dec. 6th, her funeral mass was said. Her own parish priest performed the service. The family all took some little part. Anne's two daughters served Mass. Four of the lads did readings. Eamonn Farrell read the psalm. John Kenny gave a talk on her life. John managed to get hold of an organist. The church organist was away. We sang all Delia's favourite hymns. There were some of Delia's plants at the altar. Her coffin was covered with a piece of her embroidery, as was a side table with her photograph and some personal things. All the men of our families carried her coffin in turn.

She was buried in Hither Green cemetery, not far from Myles and Kevin. Her next neighbour is Fr Fagan from Catford. He used to be Bridie Greham's parish priest. 

The cemetery was knee deep in mud. It rained steadily for weeks past. At least the rain kept off while we prayed at the graveside. Mary and I picked the place. She is between two nice trees. In the summer it will be nice. 

Mary Dallison arranged refreshments in the church hall for those who weren't coming to the cemetery. Everybody else came back to my house. I hadn't seen some of them for years. 

Our hall was like a Muslim temple. Everybody took off their shoes. They were covered in mud. I hardly recognised some of the lads and their friends. They all wore suits and ties. Delia would be impressed. Delia's parish priest came back to our house after and had some refreshments and Anne packed him a carton of food for his evening meal. Mary and I went on Sunday morning to see him and give him a personal gift, as we also did for John Kavanagh. Mary and Anne went to Marks and Spencer's early on Wednesday morning and got all the food, chicken and salads, fresh bread, pastries, etc. All the family helped with the wine and drinks. All the children came when school was over. I feel very sad.

Nora