Friends, you have come together because you knew and loved Joyce Elaine

Thorpe as mother/grandmother, relative or friend.

It is good that you have come together. Because you need each other in
empathy and consolation.
Here you will face Joyce's death, celebrate her life, and show your love and
support for one another.
Tonight, you her family, will gather good memories, as you have been doing
over these past few days, you will tell and retell the foundational stories of
your family. For Joyce's life has no doubt touched every one of you..
But we have also come together believing that all human life is valuable.
Because a human life is sacred in its being born, in its living, and also in its
dying.
We come, believing that Joyce's life has been translated from this temporary
mortal existence to a more glorious and eternal one, of which we get only but
a glimpse.
Her life was lived in its uniqueness with us but now she has passed into a
Heavenly Communion.
Although Joyce no longer shares her physical existence with us, the gifts and
graces which she offered are never lost to us, for they are forever residing in
our hearts and lives and will travel into the future with us.
Our lives are forever changed for having known her.
Prayer/Silent Reflection
Let us pray:
Compassionate and loving God, renew our inner strength,heal our grief

stricken hearts and minds, lift us up to find new meaning in all of lifes
circumstances.
Embrace us in our uncertainties and lift our hope. In the name of Christ we
ask. Amen.
Good Evening, my name is Father Ernest Ross of the Johannine Catholic
Church, and I'd like to welcome you to this Service of Thanksgiving and
Committal for Joyce Elaine Thorpe. On behalf of her family I thank you for
attending and sharing in this important and solemn occasion with them.
Following this service you are invited to join the family at:
__________________________________ for conversation and refreshments.
Readings/Poems
Sleep on, beloved, sleep, and take thy rest;
Lay down thy head upon the Saviors breast;
We loved thee well, but Jesus loves thee best
Good night! Good night! Good night!
Calm is thy slumber as an infants sleep;
But thou shall wake no more to toil and weep;
Thine is a perfect rest, secure and deep
Good night! Good night! Good night!
Until the shadows from this earth are cast,
Until He gathers in His sheaves at last;
Until the twilight gloom be over past
Good night! Good night! Good night!

Until the Easter glory lights the skies,

Until the dead in Jesus shall arise,
And He shall come, but not in lowly guise
Good night! Good night! Good night!
Until, made beautiful by love divine,
Thou, in the likeness of thy Lord shall shine,
And He shall bring that golden crown of thine
Good night! Good night! Good night!
Only Good night, beloved not farewell!
A little while, and all His saints shall dwell
In hallowed unison indivisible
Good night! Good night! Good night!
Until we meet again before His throne,
Clothed in the spotless robe He gives His own,
Until we know even as we are known
Good night! Good night! Good night!
Reflection
We are gathered here this evening by Joyce's death. Most of the time we can
accept death as an abstract principle, part of the biological chain of
generation begetting generation.
But when death comes to a beloved family member, our grief is personal,
sharp, and painful.
So we mourn. For we have suffered a loss.

Yet death always brings us face to face with life. Indeed, each of us lives
between two eternities.
Each birth causes us to wonder where the spark of life comes from. Every
death makes us wonder what part of that life survives.
What we have done, and who we have been, remains part of the wider
universe long after we are gone.
None of us knows the whole truth about what lies beyond death.
As Christians we believe that as we journey between life and death, we are
safe in the hands of an infinitely gracious God, and we believe that every
human life, with a mind to think and a heart to love, is an expression of the
Spirit of God.
Tribute
Let us affirm and celebrate the life of Joyce Thorpe.
As many of you know, Joyce had been the victim of an unfortunate accident
not too long ago, and she had gone through quite a lot after her accident as
well. However, it seemed as if she was getting better. She was physically on
the mend and in the process of getting her own place again. She was happy
about that. She was staying with her son Jake and his wife Heidi after she
was released from the nursing home. She was working on getting the trache
taken out and was nervous but excited about that too. She used to go to bingo
with her sister-in-law Barb. She was with Frank for close to 30 years before
he passed of cancer. Joyce missed him very much but she hid that fact most
of the time. Even though they no longer lived together, they still loved each
other very much. She would go sit with him most of the day, everyday until
she was no longer able to because of her accident. She helped her Children
and grandchildren whenever she could. She was a faithful and loving Mother
and Grandmother.
Joyce, you were a gift to others and we respect your journey through this life.

A Personal Moment
We are glad Joyce lived.
We are glad we knew her fellowship.
We cherish the memory of her words, her deeds and her character.
Thanks be to God, the Source and Ground of Life, for all the gifts we have
received in Joyce. Amen.
The Farewell
As we come to the moment of farewell, part of our grief may be regret
for things done or left undone... words said, or never said... moments that
never happened.
This is the time to lay aside all those regrets and honor the spirit of Joyce
herself, who would never want them carried into our future.
To love someone is to risk the pain of parting with them. Not to love is never
to have lived. The grief that we now experience is the honoring and reality of
our love.
We hold in our thoughts and hearts those most touched by Joyce's death:
especially her children, grandchildren and all the members of their extended
families.
But we who are here, and those who are absent but thinking of you, can give
you the continuing promise that we shall walk quietly beside you in love and
prayer, seeking to uphold you through the depths of your loss as well as
encouraging you to continue living.
Go to prayer book.