John Neal Stratton (23 Jul 1923 - 4 May 2014)

Funeral Service

Here are some details of the funeral service with links to where you can hear the music, hymn and poem that we have chosen.

Music

Våren (Last Spring) from Elegiac Melodies, Opus 34 No. 2 - Edvard Grieg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GriPe_5X1-U

Poem

So Many Different Lengths of Time - Brian Patten

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEoBH55IdCA

http://dawndavieswords.blogspot.co.uk/2011/01/so-many-different-lengths-of-time-brian.html

Hymn

Abide with Me - Henry Francis Lyte (words) & Willan Monk (music)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5nbq_VEea0

http://library.timelesstruths.org/music/Abide_with_Me/

John in Remembrance
"There are certain things we feel to be beautiful and good and we must hunger after them" - George Eliot.
John showed us how important it is to love people around us.

Sorry to hear your sad news John. Marie & John

I'm so sorry to hear the news about John. I'm also so thankful that i got to see him before he passed away. It was a great visit that i will remember!
hope you'r doing ok.

By email, 7th May 2014:

Kære Liv og John Ivar!
Det var sårt at høre, at John døde. Men jeg trøster mig med, at han ikke havde smerter og at han slap at ligge længe på sygehuset.

Tænker meget på jer begge og havde tænkt jeg skulle finde et fint vers, som kunne være til trøst og opmuntring. Du Liv plejer at være så god til at finde fine vers. Men det eneste jeg fandt var den svenske folkemelodien:

Vem kan segla förutan vind?
Vem kan ro utan åror?
Vem kan skilljas från vännen sin
utan att fälla tårar?

Jeg synes det er så smuk en melodi, omend ganske vemodig. Håber foråret og alle blomsterne i haven kan være til glæde og trøst. Her er alt så grønt og fint. Plenen fuld av løvetand. Syrinerne såvidt begyndt at blomstre.

Skulle hilse fra mor og sige at hun havde læst mail på biblioteket, men havde ikke haft tid at svare. Hun skriver i morgen. Fredag tager vi til Kolding og ordner hendes computer.

De kærligste hilsener og tanker til jer begge
fra Lise Gry

By email, 6th May 2014:

I’m really sorry about the sad news, but happy to hear he died peacefully and that his mind functioned also the last days.

It is very special to lose a parent, the basis is somewhat missing.

Hope you and Aunt Liv are taking good care of each other. Please give my best to Aunt Liv!

By email, 5th May 2014:

I am sorry to hear that my uncle John died yesterday. I wish you the very best from the depths of my hearth.

He has always been pictured as a hero in my mind. As you know I am proud and thankful of having an uncle who was actively involved in situations we never want to experience, giving me and my country a gift we do not easily see because it is there all the time! Freedom.

I remember striving to learn the ‘th’ sound together with uncle John in the garden at Aanes, Vereide. He showed his thumb and said the word, I repeated – again and again - and I couldn’t believe that it could be so hard to say this sound!

I don’t think it was a memorable moment for him, but it certainly was for me.

Message, 4th May 2014:

Hei! Kondolerer så mykje med far din! Det var trist å høyre. Hels så mykje til Liv.

Message, 4th May 2014:

I'm so sorry to hear that uncle John died. To loose mum or dad is hard, although we know it will happen some day. It doesn't matter how old they are, they still are mum and dad. I hope you'll bring up good memories of your father, even it's difficult these days. You are in our thoughts

My English isn't Perfect.... I didn't mean that it's difficult to find good memories, but today it's only pain and sorrow...

The flowers in the garden will for ever be memories about your dad........

Message 4th May 2014:

I'm so sorry to hear that uncle John died. To loose mum or dad is hard, although we know it will happen some day. It doesn't matter how old they are, they still are mum and dad. I hope you'll bring up good memories of your father, even it's difficult these days. You are in our thoughts

My english isn't Perfect.... i didn't mean that it's difficult to find good memories, but today it's only pain and sorrow...

The flowers in the garden will for ever be memories about your dad........

By email, 4th May 2014:

So sorry to hear of uncle John's passing this morning. It's very sad but I take comfort in that he passed peacefully without pain and at the great age of 90 with a long and wonderful life behind him.

I think it was good that he was completely with you mentally and you got to spend that precious time together. But must be strange to think he's gone and, of course, you will miss him deeply.

Hope you are both doing ok.

Lots of love and hugs from us.