You can.....

You can shed tears that she is gone or you can smile because she has lived.
You can close your eyes and pray that she’ll come back or you can open your eyes and see all that she has left.
Your heart can be empty because you can’t see her or you can be full of the love you shared.
You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.
You can remember her and only that she is gone or you can cherish her memory and let it live on.
You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn your back or you can do what she’d want! Smile, open your eyes, love and go on.

Love of Mother Poem

Now that I am gone,
Remember me with smiles and laughter.
And if you need to cry,
Cry with your brother or sister
Who walks in grief beside you.
And when you need me,
Put your arms around anyone
And give to them what you need to give to me.
There are so many who need so much.
I want to leave you something - -
Something much better than words or sounds.
Look for me in the people I’ve known
Or helped in some special way.
Let me live in your heart
As well as in your mind.
You can love me most
By letting your love reach out to our loved ones,
By embracing them and living in their love.
Love does not die, people do.
So, when all that’s left of me is love,
Give me away as best you can.

"Gone From My Sight"

By Barbara Karnes

I am standing upon the seashore. A ship at my side spreads her white sails to the morning breeze and starts for the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength. I stand and watch her until at length she hangs like a speck of white cloud just where the sea and sky come to mingle with each other.

Then someone at my side says “There, she is gone!”

“Gone where?”

Gone from my sight. This is all. She is just as large in mast and hull and spar as she was when she left my side and she is just as able to bear her load of living freight to her destined port.

Her diminished size is in me, not in her. And just at the moment when someone at my side says: “There, she is gone!” there are other eyes watching her coming, and other voices ready to take up the glad shout: “Here she comes!”

And that is dying.

A celebration of the life of Lois (Smith) Illingworth

Peacefully on Wednesday, February 2, 2011 in her 85th year surrounded by her loving family.

Daughter of the late Charlotte and William Smith. Beloved wife of the late William Hazen. Loving mother of Linda (Scott Burrell), Judi, Carol (Chris Boland), Paulene (Andre Bourgault), Jo-Anne, Deb (Malcolm Ravells), Shaun (Isabelle Martineau), Tracy (Lorna Wilson), Darren (Emily Duquette), Michael, Kerri (Andre Mazhar) and Melanie (John Kotsopoulos). Cherished grandmother of Jason Boland (deceased), Sacha Gagnon (Lisa), Trevor Curren (Jen), Courtney Williams (Ryan), Jesse Illingworth, Taylor Illingworth, Charlotte and Rebecca Illingworth, William and Eva Mazhar. Great-Grammie Oosie to Brooke, Austin and Liam Gagnon, Lenni Illingworth, Tazzy Curren and the expected little button. Dear sister of the late Kenny, Corky, Leonard, Elaine, and Bev.

Family and friends may visit at the West Chapel of Hulse Playfair & McGarry, 150 Woodroffe Ave at Richmond Road Thursday 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Visitation will also be held after 10 a.m. Friday, February 4, 2011 at Woodroffe United Church, 207 Woodroffe Ave until service time at 11 a.m. Interment to follow in the spring at Auld Kirk Cemetery, Almonte.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Canadian Cancer Society, Canadian Diabetes Association or The Heart and Stroke Foundation would be appreciated.