Béatrice Roma Smith
Full funeral service
6 January 1933 – 14 June 2020
South Essex Crematorium,
Ockendon Road, Corbets Tey, Upminster, Essex RM14 2UY
Tuesday 23 June 2020, 10 am
NIMROD from Enigma variations, Edward Elgar
WELCOME
Welcome and Introduction by Pamela Trott ~ Funeral Celebrant.
Welcome to you all, we are here to honour and celebrate the life of Beatrice Roma Smith known as Roma. Roma died on 14th June at home with her daughter and two sons by her side.
The separateness, the uniqueness of each human life is the basis of our grief in bereavement. Look around you, there is no one like Roma: she will live on in your memories and, though no longer a visible part of your lives, she will remain a member of your family or of your circle of friends, through the influence she has had on you and the special part she has played in your lives.
Later in the ceremony there will be time for reflection when you may wish to remember Roma in your own way. Today you will hear family memories and tributes. The curtains will remain open throughout this ceremony.
FEARE NO MORE
Feare no more the heate o’ th’ Sun,
Nor the furious Winters rages,
Thou thy worldly task hast don,
Home art gon, and tane thy wages,
Golden Lads and Girles all must,
As Chimney-Sweepers, come to dust.
Feare no more the frown o’ th’ Great,
Thou art past the Tirants stroake,
Care no more to cloath, and eate,
To thee the Reede is as the Oake :
The Scepter, Learning, Physicke must,
All follow this, and come to dust.
Feare no more the Lightening flash,
Nor the all-dreaded Thunder-stone,
Feare not Slander, Censure rash,
Thou hast finished joy and mone.
All Lovers young, all Lovers must,
Consigne to thee, and come to dust …
William Shakespeare
BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER
Simon and Garfunkel
EULOGY by Graham Smith
LEADER
Roma’s Story read by Pam Trott Celebrant
We have just heard the moving eulogy of Beatrice Roma Smith, born Atkinson, given to us by her son, Graham. Roma had a rich and varied life, a warm family life, but she also enjoyed her own private life with her friends and companions.
Roma’s endless energy matched her interests: she was a member of many cultural organisations and over the years she supported a whole host of charities. This may sound like a list but I hope I can give you an idea of how far Roma’s interests stretched. A regular at the Queens Theatre, Roma joined the Romford Ladies Probus Club decades ago and was president between 2017-2019, she was Honorary President at the time of her death, an active contributor to the Hornchurch Library Poetry Club, the Art Society (where she attended monthly conferences on fine arts), and more recently member of the University of the 3rd Age (U3A) and the Havering Heritage Club. A keen gardener, Roma was a member of the Royal Horticultural Society and the National Trust. We have already seen, Roma loved camping, was an excellent dancer and caller and member of several dancing clubs: the Upminster Scottish Dancers, the Romford and Brentwood and Barley Leaf Folk Dancers, the South East Folk Section.
Fun-loving Roma was very attentive to people not so fortunate as herself. She shopped regularly in charity shops and supported St Francis Hospice, emerge, crisis, Amnesty International, WaterAid, Unicef, Save the Children, Parkinsons, World Cancer Research, Stand by me and the children’s hospice, Richard House. Although Roma and Fred left army life in the 60s, Roma carried on supporting the Armed forces charity, ssafa.
Roma died at home: she was attended to by her three children with the daily support of the local medical and caring community, the St Francis Hospice at home team and the Marie Curie night carers that they are grateful for in addition to the wonderful carers from Home Sweet Home. The family expresses a particular heart-felt thank you for their help, day and night.
If you would like to make a donation in Roma’s memory, please give to the London Air Ambulance.
INDIAN PRAYER TRADITIONAL
When I am dead
Cry for me a little
Think of me sometimes
But not too much.
Think of me now and again
As I was in life
At some moments it’s pleasant to recall
But not for long.
Leave me in peace
And I shall leave you in peace
And while you live
Let your thoughts be with the living.
Anonymous
BLESSING
We have been remembering Roma with love and affection, she will be sadly missed. Take the legacy of memories and the wealth of wisdom Roma has given you in her life into your own lives to live on in your hearts and memories.
Everything that has an end, has a new beginning, a time to reflect, a time to remember and a time to look to the future. I do not think there is anyone here who does not feel enriched for having known Roma.
Thank you all, for being here to share this day and to celebrate Roma’s life and to mourn her death with love and affection.
Committal - Blessing and Farewell: Please stand to pay your respects to Roma.
We have come to the final act of saying farewell to Roma by committing her body now and later the family will scatter her ashes, along with Fred’s that Roma kept closely and preciously for twenty-five years. They will be returned back to the Suffolk earth to complete the natural cycle of life.
As Roma was one of life’s great givers, the last words today is how she would like you to remember her.
Afterglow
I’d like the memory of me to be a happy one.
I’d like to leave an afterglow of smiles when life is done.
I’d like to leave an echo whispering softly down the ways,
Of happy times and laughing times and bright and sunny days.
I’d like the tears of those who grieve, to dry before the sun;
Of happy memories that I leave when life is done.
Exit Music: In a little while we will leave this chapel to go into the flower garden. Following the rules of ‘safe distancing’ please do not approach or touch the coffin on your way out. Thank you.
The next piece of music you hear will bring Roma’s celebration of life ceremony to a close: Hallelujah by Jeff Buckley
HALLELULIA, Jeff Buckley version
Roma’s family thanks you for your messages and sympathy. For those of you unable to be here today, we wish to share our words, music and your thoughts.
Please write to: wendyatkinson@free.fr