KEN WALLS published this in the Wall Street Journal and explained why burial is better after death.
“The Wilkinsons of Sussex, England, received what they thought was a gift package of herbs from Australian relatives. So they stirred the contents into a traditional Christmas cake, ate half of it, and put the remainder in the refrigerator. Soon afterwards, they had a letter from Auntie Sheila in Sydney telling that Uncle Eric had died, and asking whether they had received his ashes for burial in Britain. Shocked, the Wilkinsons summoned their local pastor to bless and bury Uncle Eric’s leftovers. After they had read their letter on the air, a BBC announcer expressed his sympathies, but added that he probably would not be popping over for lunch.”
My dearest friend, Shirley Abarquez, who had a good sense of humor, would have laughed at the story, especially after her remains were cremated. My long-time friend, a former fellow broadcaster, faced her Creator last Wednesday, April 18, after being in a comatose state for three days following an aneurysm attack.
We were not only work buddies but intimate friends as well at the Broadcast Production and Training Center, production arm of DyLA, owned and operated by the Associated Labor Unions. Shirley was always fun to be with. She wore that contagious smile that would readily change your mood. She had this disposition that she took everything in stride including the rigmaroles of living.
Since her house was just walking distance from the radio station, she would invite me for dinner: “Adto ta mangaon sa bayay kay nagluto si mama ug lami.” Shirley was from Surigao. She came to Cebu and graduated with a degree in MassCom at the University of the Philippines-Cebu.
As I was flipping my fingers thru my hanged clothes, I think I was talking to my friend’s ghost... “I would have preferred to dress myself for a lunch date or dig into my folded swimwear to dip in the clubhouse pool with you instead of making a decision whether to wear all white or all black for your wake.”
Shirley’s three children, namely, Jean, Crisley and Ivan, will surely miss their mama but will certainly cherish the precious moments with their doting mother. Julienne, one of her four grandchildren, who just spent some bonding time with her, will have difficulty comprehending how a healthy grandma could be gone forever that quickly without saying goodbye.
I can say without fear of contradiction that our Creator must have been smiling as He went through the list of good deeds Shirley brought with her.