Welcome friends and family to this short time to say goodbye to my mother Joan Mary Welburn.

Joan, she had planned for over 25 years,  that when she died, which, for her, was to be an unlikely event, she would be buried with her husband in Lanercost Priory.

When I found out about her family grave in Surrey, containing seven of her family, and gave her the details, she felt that it would be a nice idea to be buried with them and then within minutes re-considered and said that she ought to be buried with her husband in Cumbria.

I was able to obtain a photograph of the family gravestone and to establish that in the Carshalton Graveyard, there was only room for ashes.

I suggested she could be in both places if she was cremated. She rather liked this idea, saying that "of course it did not really matter did it" and it seemed a lot of bother for us.

However it does seem appropriate that she does return home in her 90^th year and that her ashes are both where she started in life and where she spent 35 happy years.

I suggest that we sit quiet for the little time we have here except that it would be lovely if people would share a few thoughts and memories for all of us to hear. One or two words or sentences are all that is needed to bring us together in memory of Jo.

I would then like to finish this part of the day by committing my mother to God with a prayer.

Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord ,
and let perpetual light shine upon her.
And may she rest in peace
Amen

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O you who "loved your own," hear our cry for mercy,
and grant that Joan whom you called from our homes
and hearts may soon enjoy everlasting rest in the home of your love.

Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord,
and let perpetual light shine upon her.
May her souls and the souls of all the faithful departed,
through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
Amen

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All then travelled to Lanercost Priory for the Memorial Service.