It was with a strange mixture of sadness and thanksgiving that members of the St Mungo Singers joined a capacity congregation of family, friends and parishioners at St Jude & St John Ogilvie’s parish for the funeral of Mrs Ann Harvey, a retired choir member who had served for around 40 years in the Soprano section.
‘I know that my redeemer lives,
on the last day I shall rise again|and in my flesh I shall see God,
the living God’.
We all remembered Ann as a lovely lady, with a beautiful, sweet voice and smile, and a ready sense of humour. No-one seeing her smile would ever have guessed that she had lost her husband to an industrial disease and was caring for a seriously disabled daughter, Joanne, whom she brought with her to major services and took on pilgrimages to Lourdes.
Fr Allan Cameron, former parish priest of St Jude’s, was the principal celebrant for the Mass, joined by Fr Francis Okereke. Mgr Gerry Fitzpatrick, had hoped to be present but was still recovering from a period in hospital.
In his homily Fr Allan said that the psalm response – You show your friends the path of life, give them the fullness of joy – was a sentence which summed up Ann. Her life was founded on friendship with God, as well as singing, joy, family life and loving care especially for her daughter Joanne. No matter what, she never lost her joy and humour, and she loved her relationship with “her” choir, the St Mungo Singers. Fr Allan stressed the importance of the Eucharist for Ann, and if he was to sum up her life, it was one of “Amen” to the Lord.
Fr Francis added that Ann was involved in everything in the parish- as a member of what he called his “special ladies” i.e. the cleaning team, as a cantor and a Eucharistic minister. She touched so many hearts, as was obvious from so many people present both at the Mass and at the Vigil the previous evening. She had laid good foundations for her family to build on.
Rest in peace, Ann – you will be a great addition to the heavenly choir.
