No one was upset around Dad for too longalthough he did have his serious side, too, of course. Thank you so much for your efforts. She would want us today to pledge ourselves to protecting her beloved boys William and Harry from a similar fate and I do this here Diana on your behalf. ? When that started to happen, there is not a single one of us who would have blamed my Dad if he had thought first about himself. You stand tall enough as a human being of unique qualities not to need to be seen as a saint. As I have shared the news this week of my grandmothers state, friends and colleagues have mentioned how old they were when they lost their grandparents. Barrett adds that she has initialized the names of loved one mentioned in the eulogy in order to protect their privacy. Mom kept score on such things. There have been those who have expressed feelings of guilt for not having seen or met Will before he died. She was telling him how happy she was that she would see him soon. She moved in a week ago today and was so happy to be in her dream home in her final days. My wife was very talented. This passage starts with Jesus speaking. This was one of her favourite stories to tell. I saw my father think and care about other people before he thought and cared about himself. It is unfortunate that it took the death of my best looking son to jolt me into action, but thankfully, it did, and I pray that it does not take such a jolt for you to become the man and father you aspire to be. The world will long remember their son Edward as the heir to a weighty legacy; a champion for those who had none; the soul of the Democratic Party; and the lion of the United States Senatea man who graces nearly 1,000 laws, and who penned more than 300 laws himself. He was a sailor. After I moved out of home, Id often make time to go visit them both. Im comfortable making that claim, Im confident attaching the word genuine to my fathers Christianity, because I have been a first-hand witness to how he lived his life. As we neared the end we snuggled up in her room and watched those dreadful Orange County Housewives programmes and wonderful Mike Leigh films. He lost two siblings by the age of 16. She was the only one who could do that. Not because we were good parents, dont misunderstand. And thats how Ted Kennedy became the greatest legislator of our time. But Chloe would always bounce back and quickly came to deal with her treatments in the same breazy, cheerful mannerplanning it carefully around drama lessons, parties and the commandeering of Hannahs ID card to facilitate Chloes illegal entry into SHOOSH nightclub in Croydon. She wanted to try all things new and was not afraid. Ironically, Wills middle name Matthew is in honor of Great-Grandpa Matt who would have had a birthday the day Will died. I held her hand often in the hospital and stroked her brow, massaged her feet, encouraged her, talked to her and told her I loved her. We must hope to give them a sense of what it means to be a loyal friend, a loving parent, a citizen who leaves his home, his neighborhood and town better than he found it. I am here before you today saying the words I have never wanted to say, giving the speech I have never wanted to give, feeling the loss I have never wanted to feel. Now, I realize its difficult to prove that my father honored the first of those commandments; that he loved God with all his heart and soul and mind. It was a gift of herself that she gave to others. She spent her final days with me, Hannah, Roman, Simon and Ralph. Your Eminence, Vicki, Kara, Edward, Patrick, Curran, Caroline, members of the Kennedy family, distinguished guests, and fellow citizens: Today we say goodbye to the youngest child of Rose and Joseph Kennedy. It was also unusually easy to find a name for Will. On April 23, 2015, Sawyer tragically committed suicide after a battle with depression. Forgive me if I turn from my own feelings to the words of another splendid bugger, WH Auden. First, his love for the people of this Church. He will always be by our side., Love is not an easy feeling to put into words. My family wishes to express our heartfelt thanks to all those who have given their support, compassion and love throughout this very difficult time. When Susan fell ill, we were all devastated. It was humbling for Michelle and I to see the hundreds, if not the thousands, of people who were able to make it to Wills showing yesterday. I dont think there was ever a prouder father. He had a wicked sense of humour that rubbed off on anyone that was near him. My impressionable four-year-old eyes saw blood pouring from him in several places, his body rapidly turning black and blue. Im just the messenger today. Jackie brought the greatest artists to the White House, and brought the arts to the center of national attention. Sure through the years Im sure there were issues they had to work through. And there was this man who had been through all that with a little girl who simply didnt want to get back on her horse. The seed on good soil, the parable of the sower tells us, stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop. City slickers, they were not. In all the years since then, her genuineness and depth of character continued to shine through the privacy, and reach people everywhere. After mom died, Dad was strong, but all he really wanted to do was to hold moms hand, again. This was my Grandpa. That is what love meant to John McCain. Let the aeroplanes circle moaning overhead. John McCain was not defined by prison, by the Navy, by the senate, by the Republican Party or by any single one of the deeds in his absolutely extraordinary life. Her funeral was held atWestminster Abbey. The reason I am standing up here today is to deliver what I feel will be the most important message of my life. I read the other day that there are worse emotions to have to live with than sadness, however vast and deep that sadness might be, it can be uplifting, invigorating, strengthening and above all a powerful reminder of how much Chloe matters; and always will. William was adored by his friends and family and it is testament to him how many of you are here today to farewell our boy. He loved life completely and he lived it intensely. He loved most types, but his favourite was Neil Diamond. Our courtship was difficult as we had to overcome distance, but I was determined to make her my wife. And so Jesus gave us a way to demonstrate our love for God. We are committed to doing something important to support those who are impacted by SIDS. She was beautiful both inside and out, and when she smiled at me I felt alive. He was a nominee for the president of the United States. They had similar personalities looking for adventure and a willingness to move to new cities and see the world. It stands for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. And as my relationship with my dad became more and more strained, Ray was the one who listened. Eventually he moved back to Jones, where he was always happiest, next to the lake that eventually took his life. They would dress him up and take him out for walks in the pramthey were just so excited to have a little brother and when he started school, they became fiercely protective of him. But, not totally perfect. You have always honored it. She had longed to have a child of her own, but it had taken longer that we had hoped. I was so exhausted that I insisted it was time for bed. He was not one to sit still too long, whether it was to saw stone, or later in his career driving his single axle truck he was so proud of, hed make sure he did his job. The memorial service began with a church choir singing a traditional hymn (Jerusalem) in a mock Chinese accent (which the Pythons referred to as Engrish). There is pride in that, even arrogance, but there is also experience and truth. Like the hero of his favorite book, John McCain took the opposite view. Goodbye, my dear, sweet husband, and God bless. And that optimism guided his children and made each of us believe that anything was possible. Ray was the rock for me. You consider all kinds of possibilities: maybe hell be a great entrepreneur, Senator, or President. I plan to share things about Wills life that only Michelle and I know. It was to give a voice to those who were not heard; to add a rung to the ladder of opportunity; to make real the dream of our founding. I dont know how I am going to make it without her, but I know she is up there telling me to suck it up. It is rumoured that Chapmans ashes have been blasted into the skies in a rocket with assistance from the Dangerous Sports Club. These were days I will always treasure. This was the one thing that gave me hope that somehow this pretty boy would be a linebacker instead of a quarterback. You see, the thing about shock is not that it upsets some people, I think; I think that it gives others a momentary joy of liberation, as we realized in that instant that the social rules that constrict our lives so terribly are not actually very important. Indeed to sanctify your memory would be to miss out on the very core of your being, your wonderfully mischievous sense of humor with a laugh that bent you double. On email, he had a circle of friends with whom he shared or received the latest jokes. He said his passion came from his grandfather who used read endlessly to him. We went through boxes full of his family photographs, the three of us sitting on the floor of his closet. Grandpa would like us to be doing something. He built two of the homes Ive lived in, showing me how to hammer nails. Will had some business to take care of, and Wills card is for you. No one expects a loved one to die so soon. There is no reason for this illness, no genetic linksjust pure bad luck. Thats how we will remember him. One recent example, earlier this Spring a young woman came to my mothers attention as she is working on a Masters degree and whose thesis includes studying the turtles in the area. You might find other siblings all around you when your own have betrayed you. My Grandfather in all his infamous stubbornness took a 5 Day Plan to Stop Smoking class from the Seventh Day Adventists and quit cold turkey. People have been looking at me with wide eyes and saying, You dont realize, do you? But in a way I think I do. Our first of many one-on-one conversations was about dating and she quickly told me some of her own dating stories to break the ice. It gives us comfort to know that Will died a peaceful death. But they are not the greatest of his titles nor the most important of his roles. Standing in defeat for the life and liberty of other peoples in other lands. They reflect the imperfection of human justice, the inadequacy of human compassion, our lack of sensibility towards the suffering of our fellows. You loved me and you showed me what love must be. We were prepared, as we had learnt years ago what the week-end would involve. When free of their parental responsibilities, Dad would whisk Mum off for some mad adventure, often without her knowing where they were going. At the mere mention of one of their names, Jackies eyes would shine brighter and her smile would grow bigger. All of that is very true, except for the last part. I always referred to Will as the best looking boy we had. Susan had an interesting upbringingborn into a family with a long history of military service. He gave us a way to move beyond statements to actions.? Her funeral was held a few blocks away from her Manhattan apartment on May 23, 1994, at St. Ignatius Loyola. Walter was the tallest in the blue uniform of Monroe Brick. At the end, she worried more about us than herself. He is an ex-Chapman. She once said that if you bungle raising your children nothing else much matters in life. She didnt bungle. Neither she nor her beautiful home deserve the burden they now bare for us. He was a tolerant man. To change people. The pregnancy was difficult. I kiss her blanket that she was wrapped in after birth every night. On Sunday afternoons, we would gather in the lounge room and Dad would put on his album of the week. He lived with an infectious enthusiasm, still making puns, still generous, and filled with even more wisdom. My father had every reason to think the world was an awful place. So in concluding our memory on the life of Pa Buechel, I want you all to remember that he was one of the best people you may ever have had the honor of meeting. And when the chips were down, bases loaded, we could count on Walter to hit the grand slams and bring them all home. And I was thinking, I would want my daughters to know how much I love them, but I would also want them to know that being a strong man includes being kind. And they do so for a lifetime. It might sound strange, but as an entrepreneur and business man, I got peace from the vision of Will the man handing me his first business card. Dad always believed that one day he would hug his precious Robin again. I plan to share things about Wills death that we think are important. He didnt scold my son or tell him he had cast the wrong vote. Ray and Thelma would double date with my dad and whomever he was going out with at the time. I received the note that you slipped under my bedroom door last night. Even with a body riddled with cancer she still was not asking for the normal allotment of painkillers as she wished to maintain full control of her faculties and to preserve her lucidity and maximize her ability to interact with the family and friends showing up to visit. Jacob your sister loved you very much and she knew how much you wanted to see her. How we miss that. Naturally, I was panic stricken and raced around everywhere looking for her. From his parents, and from his older brothers and sistersJoe andKathleen and Jackhe received an inspiration which he passed on to all of us. He just stood there, literally speechless, for twenty minutes, smiling beatifically. Not only was he a wonderful husband, but a wonderful father, grandfather, best friend, colleague and so much more. Anything for him but mindless good taste. He never had a chance to complete that one last act of love. How Chloe would have adored this! This story of my grandmother wouldnt be complete if I didnt pay homage to her incredible cooking. Every summer, we would make the cross-country drive to San Francisco. I envisioned him being so proud of the enterprise he was building and the difference he was making for the world. She was the kind of person who just had more love in her heart for the more people who joined our lives. Imagine the senator, fierce conscious of the nations best self, taking his 14-year-old daughter out of school because he believed that I would learn more about America at the town halls he held across the country. For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.? Thats what he would hope for. Ted Kennedy was the father who looked not only after his own three children, but Johns and Bobbys as well. I truly appreciate you. Fighting the fight even in the most forlorn cause, even in the most grim circumstances, even in the most distant and hostile corner of the world. If you dont believe me, ask Cleo Collins. John McCain was in all of those places, but the best of him was somewhere else. Open your home. He laughed and danced with them at birthdays and weddings; cried and mourned with them through hardship and tragedy; and passed on that same sense of service and selflessness that his parents had instilled in him. You quickly gained weight, though, and after a couple of days in the hospital I was allowed to take you home. It brought us great comfort to know that he died a hero and that we were spreading around parts of his spirit to a very lucky recipient. Whether it was taking Rose and Tatiana for an ice cream cone, or taking a walk in Central Park with little Jack as she did last Sunday, she relished being Grandjackie and showering her grandchildren with love. She should not have died. A Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, Please give me a drink, since his disciples had gone off into town to buy food.? The America of John McCain has no need to be made great again because America was always great. Much to Dads never-ending frustration, I might add! There are far too many to thank here and now; but you know who you are. Additionally, the repairman cant get here until next week, so your expansion plan will have to be put on hold. Everybody thinks they have a great mom, but as kids, we KNEW we had a great mom because everybody else told us so. I loaded the wood onto a pallet, and as I was taking the pallet away from the house a cutoff shovel handle rolled off the pallet. Scribbling on the sky the message He ls Dead. I hope she knows I looked after her as best as I could while I was growing her. In fact, Gray, more than anyone I knew, embodied and symbolized all that was most offensive and juvenile in Monty Python. It seemed successful and after months of rest, Louise appeared to be on the road to recovery. I am now going to share with you things about Wills death that Michelle and I think are important. A speech he made to the young people of South Africa on their Day of Affirmation in 1966 sums it up the best, and I would like to read it now: There is discrimination in this world and slavery and slaughter and starvation. And she searched out new authors and ideas. Finally, every day of his 73 years of marriage, Dad taught us all what it means to be a great husband. Mum, thank you for everything youve given usand the warmth we shared during your precious time on earth. Work had to be done, and if there was time, it needed to get taken care of. The answer is to rely on youth not a time of life but a state of mind, a temper of the will, a quality of imagination, a predominance of courage over timidity, of the appetite for adventure over the love of ease. I was watching a teenager grow into a young mana young man with so much enthusiasm and with so many plans for the future. And we can strive at all costs to make a better world, so that someday, if we are blessed with the chance to look back on our time here, we know that we spent it well; that we made a difference; that our fleeting presence had a lasting impact on the lives of others.