Duration: About 20-25 minutes is usual.

Officiant: Mark Teeple – Brother in Law

Music: Choose music during your entry into the chapel.

Friends and family members, we are meeting here today to celebrate and reflect on the life of Jack Regan.

We have come together from different places, and we are all at different stages on our journey through life. Our paths are varied, and we look at life in different ways, but there is one thing we all have in common; at one point or another, and to some degree or other, our lives have been touched by the life of Jack.

Please take time to sign the registry and share a tail or two about how Jack touched your lives. Our ceremony will be short, simple just the way Jack would have wanted it to be; close friends and family, a few tears and a little laughter……saying that, it is perfectly OK to cry and to laugh while you are here. Jack would have wanted it this way.

We are together for the next few hours (but I’ll only take a few minutes)

-          The reception area…..

-          The bathrooms….

-          In the event of an emergency……

I’m going to share with you….

-          A brief chronological reflection from my perspective

-          A passage titled the “Tree of Life”

-          We’ll make time for your tributes to Jack

-          I’ll read a poem and invite others to share their own

-          We will do a brief Committal for Jack

-          Conclusion

This ceremony is an opportunity to join in remembering someone we have loved and respected, but it is more than that, it is the celebration of his life and personality and a time to comfort those of his family and friends who are here today and have been affected by their death.

Jack was born on September 24th 1941 In Renfrew Ontario. He was the son of Patrick and Alice Regan; one of 10 children. Apparently, the nights were long in Renfrew county for the Regan’s. Jack was not the biggest, but arguably the scrappiest of the Regan boys. He spent his youth as a rambunctious young man looking to make a name for himself at the local bars. My own mother used to tell me stories that reminded me of the Dukes of Hazzard with Jack barrelling down the old dirt roads of Ferguslea with the local law enforcement in “hot pursuit”.

Jack slowed down enough to meet his first wife, my sister Coral. His reputation meant he had to work extra hard to win the heart of our mother and father……and that he did. Jack, though not formally trained, was very mechanically inclined. These skills had a profound impact on our family; Jack was responsible for bringing running water into our home. He also installed a central wood furnace in our old log house, to ease the chill of the Ontario winter (this was likely the reason my parents stopped at 8 children).

As a young child I remember being captivated by Jack when he would come over. He just seemed to light up the room with his smile and personable demeanor. Many of us would help Jack out as he worked his magic around the farm, but none so much as my sister Yvonne. She was always there helping Jack to bring water and heat to our humble home. And while I’m not completely sure, I believe Jack himself may have had a part in her enduring nickname “Smiley” that still creeps into our discourse today. Jack gave Yvonne 2 gargantuan Chryslers, one of which close family friends lovingly called “old Spitfire”. Jack loved cars, specifically Chrysler and Dodge cars. He taught many of us to drive in my family including myself. His words still echo in my head when I’m travelling in winter conditions…… “Just keep your foot into her Markie, She’s front wheel drive and she’ll pull you right through.” – in fact, his prowess for driving is evidenced by the fact he didn’t teach my sister Karen to drive, and she’s spent many a winter storm in the ditch.

Jack and Coral had two amazing children, you all know Lisa and Brent. I was very close to these two and I consider them more my siblings than niece and nephew. Jack, was always stricken with his princess Lisa. This auburn haired and chubby cheeked little bundle of mischief could do no wrong in Jack’s eyes. He loved her unconditionally, and she loved him. I remember Lisa would just need to hint to her dad she may need a ride, $20, a new pair of shoes or a dress and Jack would be like…”Of course honey, how much?....where to? Or where would you like to go shopping?”. Brent was Jack and Coral’s prodigy, a wiz kid if you will; un-phased by regular school, he decided to take it in French, and now he speaks fluid Japanese. I still find it unnerving how someone so white can speak Japanese with such ease. Brent’s inherent ability to learn was a direct result of Jack’s smarts, he just “got” things. Jack was so proud of Brent’s accomplishments. As children, when Brent and I disturbed a hornet’s nest we learned that night he was allergic to bee stings. Jack broke many traffic laws that night rushing him to the Hospital……but that was Jack, family first.  Jack loved these two with all his heart, he would have travelled to the ends of the earth for Brent an Lisa, and that he did.

Jack’s abilities led him west and the family moved to Vulcan in the late 70’s. Eventually they ended up in Calgary. This is where I joined the family. Not wanting to quit school and work on the farm, Jack and Coral took me in at 14 years old, and afforded me the opportunity to stay in school. I owe my successes in life to Jack and Coral, I’m proud to be the first in my family to achieve a graduate degree, the Master’s in Business. This would not have been possible were it not for Jack and Coral opening their hearts and home.

Jack worked hard to make ends meet, and he worked in places most people would not even want to visit, let alone work in. We once visited Jack in Kindersley Saskatchewan……I thought the drive was boring, but the town was torturous for kids too young to drink at the local tavern. Jack took this in stride as a necessity to the family and never complained.

He also spent more than a decade working in Canada’s Northern hamlet of Tuktoyaktuk, which roughly translated means “resembling a caribou”. I’m not sure if this was in reference to the topography of the region or the populace that inhabited it. Commonly referred to simply by its first syllable, Tuk , the settlement lies north of the Arctic Circle on the shore of the Arctic Ocean. It is the only community in Canada on the Arctic Ocean that is connected to the rest of Canada by road, this made it a key logistical hub for oil and gas exploration as well as a key point for NORAD to monitor airspace. Population got as high as 999 people and temperature averages range from a frigid -27 to a balmy 11 degrees Celsius (windchills recorded reached -70). For many years Jack called this place his second home and this is where he grew a tremendous respect for the indigenous people. An individual’s utility or “worth” in this environment was not based on the certificates hanging on your wall or the ring on your pinky finger, it is based on your ability to keep things running, to fix things with what’s readily available and to be in harmony with the community…..Jack was king in this environment. The distance took its toll on Jack and Coral’s marriage and eventually they parted ways.

Jack, being a flirty and skilled communicator, did not take long to meet his second wife, Mel. Jack was smitten by Mel and would always talk about her with great adoration. When we finally met her in person, we could see Jack met a true sparkplug who’s emphatic nature complimented Jack’s hyper social personality. I must say, Mel is the only person I’ve met who can out talk Jack. She must have loved him because she followed him to Tuk and they made a life for a short while in Canada’s north before returning to Calgary. Mel and Jack expanded their family when they adopted Elaina. I haven’t had the opportunity to spend much time with Elaina, but I know Jack loved her deeply. He always talked about her and was still talking about her during his health challenges.

Just yesterday I asked Brent and Lisa to tell me the first thing that they thought of when they remembered Jack and they both resounded “CARDS”…with a look on their face that seemed to be a cross between pleasant memories and paralyzing apprehension. Digging further, Lisa shared a sentiment about the card game “Crib”. Jack seemed unbelievably lucky at cards, winning most times and chuckling as he’d come from behind to take the game in the last stretch of the crib board. Being young and new to the game, you were learning as you went; I can still remember counting my points “15-2, 15-4, 15-6 and a pair is 8”……Jack would lay down his cards and simply say “I got 19 honey!” It wasn’t until many years and games later that we realized 19 is an impossible score in crib! But that was Jack, I can still see him shirtless at the table playing solitaire or “Beat the devil”.  I now know Jack would have sneakily repositioned a strategic card on the Devil himself if he had looked away for just a moment to stack the cards in his favour.

For myself, Jack rarely missed a Saturday or Sunday phone call to catch up on the week’s affairs. My wife Sheri would routinely answer the call and the phone would vociferate in an accent shrouded in Ottawa valley and resembling somehow an Irish undertone “Did I wake you Sheri?!”….Sheri would half laugh and half roll her eyes and say, “no Jack I have kids I’ve been up for 2 hours already” and promptly hand me the phone.

I’ve learned a lot from Jack and I’m forever grateful he was a part of my life. He taught me to drive, to work hard, to have fun and to be a man. After his debilitating stroke, unconditional love was retuned to him from his princess, Lisa. She never left his side, she was there for every holiday, birthday and just to visit. I guess those trips to Kindersley acclimatized her for long trips into small towns. During his recent decline, Lisa was by his side the whole journey; a true shepherd, never leaving her dad. I’m pretty sure  Jack was with me at 1am this morning as I wrote, whispering for me to say, “Thank you so much my princess, for being there, for being beside me through it all”.

Many religions and mythologies refer to the concept of life as a sacred tree. Christian, Islam, Hinduism, Jewish and even Charles Darwin refer to similar philosophy of life and death. I’d like to read a passage for you now to reflect on life and death.

The death of each of us is in the order of things; it follows life as surely as night follows day. We can take the tree of life as a symbol. The human race is the trunk and branches of this tree, and individual men and women are the leaves which appear one season, flourish for a summer and then die. I too am like a leaf on this tree and one day I shall be torn off by a storm, or I shall simply decay and fall and mingle with the earth at it's roots. But, while I live I am conscious of the tree's flowing sap and steadfast strength. Deep down in my consciousness is the consciousness of a collective life, a life of which I am a part as to which I make a minute but unique contribution. When I die and fall, the tree remains nourished to some small degree by my manifestation of life. Millions of leaves have preceded me and millions will follow me; but the tree itself grows and endures.

My friends and family, I’d like to invite you now to share your tributes to Jack. It can be anything from life, love, failures, or humorous stories. These tributes are a chance to reflect upon Jack and share the loss with everyone here, so please don’t be shy, this is an important part of the grieving process.

A moment of quiet may be included, and those with a religious belief might wish to say a prayer.

I’d like to share with you a Poem I found last night by Henry Scott Holland entitled “Death is Nothing at all”. This I believe, is how Jack would have wanted you to feel about his passing. Have a listen, and let me know if you think I’m right. ….and if you have a poem you’d like to share, please do so.

Death is Nothing at All - Henry Scott Holland 1847-1918

Death is nothing at all,

I have only slipped away into the next room.

Whatever we were to each other, we still are.

Please, call me by my old familiar [Name].

Speak of me in the same easy way you always did.

Laugh, as we always laughed, at the little jokes we enjoyed together.

Think of me and smile.

Let my [Name] be the household [Name] it always was,

Spoken without the shadow of a ghost in it.

Life means all it ever meant.

It is the same as it ever was.

Death is inevitable, so why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight?

I am but waiting for you, - for an interval very near.

Nothing is past or lost.

One brief moment and all will be as it was before,

Only better and happier.

Together forever.

All is well

'Would you please stand for the committal. To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose on earth, a time to be born and a time to die. Here in this last act, in sorrow but without fear, in love and appreciation, we commit Jack to its natural end.'

Ruth Burgess

Into the freedom of wind and sunshine –

Response - We let you go

Into the dance of the stars and the planets

Response - We let you go

Into the wind's breath and the hands of the star maker

Response - We let you go

We love you, we miss you, we want you to be happy

Go safely, go dancing, go running home

In closing, I’d like to share for you a poem from an unknown author. It is speculated that it’s origins are indigenous, and I know that the message is one Jack would like you to take home with you.

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.
Anon

you may want to choose one last piece of music to listen to before exiting the chapel or to play as the mourners leave