Celebrating Our Mothers

By: Matt Weedon - Tobin Brothers Funerals
Thursday, May 12, 2016

Mother’s Day this year was a special day for me, especially now my kids are growing up and can appreciate her too, as “Yay Nana” I think that’s her name because they never just say Nana. When they learn they’re going to visit her, their response is always Yay! Nana! In their eyes she is the bearer of sweet things, exciting games and handmade gifts and having recently moved into a “retirement resort”, access to a heated swimming pool and private cinema has boosted her status into the stratosphere.

Visiting Mum on Mother’s Day is great…it’s just getting there that’s the problem.

Each year I quietly (and sometimes not so quietly) grumble about preparing the kids, loading them into the car, packing their bags with enough stuff to cover every conceivable scenario (and even some inconceivable ones), scrambling to buy a half way decent bunch of flowers, before heading across the city in bumper to bumper traffic.

However, this year was different. This year, I was able to reflect on how lucky I and my family were to still have Mum to visit and enjoy this day and many others with her. It wasn’t until I attended one of the Tobin Brothers Funerals Mother’s Day services, that the enormity of not having your Mum in your life anymore really hit home.

Although the services were designed to bring comfort to people and allow a space for them to honour their Mother or loved one during a time that can often amplify feelings of grief and sadness, I think it also provided them something unexpected – a sense of ritual and connection.

One lady actually stood up at the end to thank Tobin Brothers and offer her heart felt appreciation for the opportunity to reflect on her Mother in a space with other people sharing similar experiences and feelings.

It was moving to witness many families placing photographs of their Mums and loved ones in the beautifully decorated space at the front of the Chapel. Candles, lights, a pond and layered greenery came together as a shrine and emphasised the significance of the service and its purpose.

Michael Lynch guided the guests, allowing them to reflect and at times talk about the loved ones they were honouring that night. Lighting candles and placing them in the pond was well received by all the guests, and I noticed there was a great deal of respect given to each other’s space and time to complete the ritual.

The music performed by Soul Chic filled the room with warmth, moving some people to tears. Others, especially during a unique but brilliant performance of “Over the Rainbow”, engaged more with their family, perhaps as it’s such a familiar song and inspires hope. 

I think everybody left the service feeling better than when they arrived. They all seemed to walk more freely and talk with larger smiles to each other. Most stayed back and enjoyed the refreshments and company before leaving with some seeds of “forget me not” flowers to plant in memory of their loved ones.

I hope to be part of the Mother’s Day services again next year. It’s good to take a moment and slow down to reflect on those you love, appreciate them and how much they enrich your life.

Written by: Matt Weedon, Tobin Brothers Funerals

Photography by: Matt Weedon, Tobin Brothers Funerals

Leave a comment
Name*:
Email:
Comment*:
Please enter the numbers and letters you see in the image. Note that the case of the letters entered matters.

Comments

Please wait

Previous Posts

Introducing our #SayItNow Ambassadors for 2024

#SayItNow 2024 Ambassadors #SayItNow returns in 2024 as Victorians join the conversation to celebrate the important people in their lives. #SayItNow is an annual initiative of Tobin Brothers Fune...

#SayItNow Returns for 2024

#SayItNow returns for 2024 #SayItNow returns in 2024 as Victorians join the conversation to celebrate the important people in their lives. Victorians young and old are being encouraged to celebra...

Celebrating the Life of Father Gerard Dowling OAM DE

Fr Gerard Dowling OAM DE  (1932-2023) Fr Gerard was a close friend of Tobin Brothers, a tremendous writer, radio host, qualified counsellor and a Catholic Priest to the Archdiocese for 65 yea...

Father Gerard Dowling OAM DE celebrates 50 years on radio!

On Sunday 3rd September 2023, Fr Gerard Dowling OAM DE celebrated a wonderful milestone of 50 years on Sunday evenings on the radio.   It was in 1973 that Fr Gerard first hosted his first ra...

Rosebud Q&A session: Pre-Paid and Pre-Arranged Funerals

  Have you ever wondered what is involved with pre-arranging a funeral? You are invited to a Q&A: Pre-Paid and Pre-Arranged Funerals to assist you in making an informed decision and to...

Introducing… Tough Times from the Heart

Introducing… Tough Times from the Heart Tobin Brothers Funerals has joined forces with SPAN CV to bring greater awareness to suicide prevention. 3144 Australians died by suicide in 2021, accordin...

Celebrating Father Gerard Dowling

  Today we would like to pay tribute to Fr Gerard Dowling OAM DE. In recent weeks he celebrated his 90th birthday and also the 49th anniversary of him being on air with the Family Counsellor...

Christmas Message 2021

  In 2020, they said it was a year that we will remember, we can add 2021 to that also. Back-to-back unforgettable years. The last two years have challenged us all in so many varied ways, an...

Escape from Neil’s Wheel: Good Friday Appeal Fundraiser

  Victoria’s Good Friday Appeal, is one of the most important annual events in the state, raising funds to enable The Royal Children’s hospital in Melbourne to provide world class care for ...

The loss of an infant or child

From the first dream… From the first moment we dream of them, our babies and children matter. They become part of the very fabric of who we are. All our children, birthed or dreamt of, alive or de...