{"id":177,"date":"2019-05-25T03:06:45","date_gmt":"2019-05-25T03:06:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/jdhammer.com\/hammeraway\/2019\/05\/25\/2019-5-25-a-memorial-from-helen-reynolds\/"},"modified":"2019-05-25T03:06:45","modified_gmt":"2019-05-25T03:06:45","slug":"2019-5-25-a-memorial-from-helen-reynolds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jdhammer.com\/hammeraway\/2019\/05\/25\/2019-5-25-a-memorial-from-helen-reynolds\/","title":{"rendered":"A seafront memorial in Delgany, Ireland"},"content":{"rendered":"
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An account of the day by Helen Reynolds<\/h3>\n

On the 11th of May Rebecca\u2019s family held a celebration of her life in Florida, the following day on the other side of the world there was a gathering of people who would have loved to but for various reasons could not make this event. Rebecca\u2019s extended family and the family she chose for herself in Ireland came together on a beach in Delgany to pay tribute to this truly amazing and captivating person we were all so lucky to have known.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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These gents drove Rebecca to so many dull hospitals all over Dublin. They delivered everything from sheets to dehumidifers to her house. They cooked five star meals and baked delicious birthday cakes. They also look great in Orange – Jessica<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Teresa and Sheila organised and hosted this event and in doing so provided us all with a beautiful setting to remember and share stories about Rebecca. The area where we all gathered was awash with Rebecca\u2019s power colour orange, Sheila provided orange t-shirts and the orange lanterns were swaying in the breeze. I like to think Rebecca had a hand in ensuring the sun stayed out the duration of it.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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John read a beautiful tribute<\/a> to Rebecca that so eloquently voiced how a lot of us felt. More of us spoke about what Rebecca had meant to us, what an amazing person she was, the dignity and strength she possessed, her wonderful sense of fun and adventure which was infectious to those around her. We reminisced of the crazy times we\u2019d shared and the hilarious situations that only Becks could get herself into. We spoke of the amazing strength Becks has always shown but especially in this last year and how in turn she has given us the strength to cope with not having her here with us.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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At Rebecca\u2019s request there was to be lots of singing and dancing and we all happily obliged. Neil and Jennifer performed a beautiful rendition of Country Roads, a favourite song of Rebecca\u2019s. We then danced like a bunch of eejits to the Spice Girls and Rebecca\u2019s other favourite songs, I\u2019m sure she was looking at all the flailing arms and legs that was our dancing, challenging us all to a dance off in her head. So we continued to dance, drink champagne and swap stories about our wonderful friend into the night. There were of course a few tears but mainly smiles and laughter because I don\u2019t think it\u2019s possible to talk about Rebecca without a smile coming to your face. <\/p>\n

To quote one of my favourite books Tuesdays with Morrie, \u201cLove is how you stay alive, even after you\u2019re gone<\/em>\u201d. Rebecca you will always be alive in the hearts and minds of all that gathered in Greystones that night and in so many more across the world.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Rebecca\u2019s Great-aunt (Teresa and Miriam\u2019s mother) Pearl Hynes in her orange best<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Video of the Ceremony<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n