Tag: Long Beach

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Thoughts from Service

A Daughters Love

I took a family out to sea not long ago, to scatter the ashes of their mother. The youngest daughter talked about her relationship with her mom from the moment we met. She spoke about places they had gone, things they had done together, just she and her mom. She spoke about things her mom had told her, that she remembered and held dear, she shared her thoughts and wishes to be just like her mom, but never once, did she seem to understand that her mom had passed. This tore at my heart the moment we left the shore. When we arrived at our site, a beautiful clear morning off the coast of Long Beach, I gave each person time to say goodbye before I recited the prayer. She continued to cheerfully recall moments of love and joy that she alone shared with her mom. When I lowered the basket covered with Rose Petals, and we watched the ashes slowly move away from the boat, she yelled….Goodbye Mommy, I love you! I’ll always love you! Goodbye Mommy…

Categories
Thoughts from Service

Welcome to my Blog

I believe that most people think that we in the funeral industry are immune to the pain and grief of losing a loved one, because we are exposed to death so frequently. I thought this as well before becoming a part of this industry, but this belief could not be more wrong.

My association with Los Angeles County Funeral Directors Association has shown me that our collective mutual priority, is to help the remaining family members and friends through this transition, as best we can.

I lost my best friend to cancer recently, she was 55. I lost my Dad a few weeks after Candace, and it is still difficult to talk about him at length without fighting back tears.

I listen to the families that I take out to sea, and sincerely pray for them, as much as I pray for their loved ones soul, who’s ashes we are scattering at sea. It is the family and friends who remain that must overcome the emotional, financial and personal void that was lovingly filled by their loved one.

Comfort, care, safety and peace are only some of the things that make me different from my competitors. I seek and receive these things from God for you and I, before we leave the shore.

You are welcome to visit me on my vessel “Great Faith”, on Dock-5 in Rainbow Harbor Marina, Long Beach, CA.

Capt. John