A service celebrating Rosie's life was held on Wednesday 16 May 2012 at the Eglise Saint Robert, Founex, by the shores of Lake Geneva. The service was conducted in French and Spanish by Father Francois Piñas of the Paroisse Saint Antoine (Geneva).

The service was attended by numerous friends, colleagues, and students of Rosie from her years of living and working in France and the Geneva area.

It was an occasion to reflect, remember, and celebrate Rosie. This page contains the readings as well as the music played during the service)

The family is very grateful to all those who attended and contributed to making this a special occasion.

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Tuesday

Eulogy (read by Aleyn Smith-Gillespie)

Rosie’s life is one that matters – because she lived it well, and because of the impact it has had, and will continue to have, on our own.

Her character and qualities genuinely shone through all aspects of her life: in family, in work, in friendship. These endured through all the ups and downs, twists and turns.

Those who knew Rosie in different contexts will have come away with the same impression of her. There was only one Rosie. She was authentic, and true to her nature.

Rosie was so much fun.

Always ready to smile, a fit of laugher waiting to burst out. Rosie saw the funny in everything, and spread it around. Everyday occurrences were an adventure waiting to happen, to be told later in colourful detail. She brought the fun into all aspects of life: into her work, into her classroom, into her home, and into her relationships.

Rosie’s outlook on life was permanently set on “positive”. She preserved an excitement and enthusiasm towards all she did, all the time. If ever the events of life brought tears, they would be quickly followed by laughter.

While much the extrovert, Rosie also had a quiet, introspective and private side.

She took time to reflect on things, and absorbed the lessons that life gave her. A life-long learner, Rosie was always eager to try something new, to challenge herself, and to improve herself.

Rosie had a particular brand of charm that couldn’t but win you over.

Cheerful, unassuming, patient, empathic, with a dash of elegance and grace, she had the capacity to befriend or disarm anyone she met. This was particularly effective when combined with some form of food or refreshment she might ply you with to soften you up.

She was the sort of person who could interact with anyone, from any walk of life or background. She was able to find the humanity in you and connect with it.

Always open, never condescending, she embodied the principle that everyone can be your teacher, and everyone deserves respect. At the same time she had a natural moral code, an internal compass that knew right from wrong – holding others to this just as much as herself.

Rosie had a tremendous amount of love to give. Her warmth and generosity of spirit were boundless.

Intuitively wise, Rosie provided many with a shoulder to lean on; an attentive ear; a hand to hold onto.

She believed in the potential and goodness of others. Perhaps nothing embodied this as much on a daily basis as her teaching. She gave her all to her students, and loved it. She seeded and nurtured the desire in others to do well, providing encouragement and guidance.

Rosie loved life, and lived it to the full. She found the world a wonderful place, and added to its beauty.

Rosie, you may have gone away, and we will sorely miss you. But we keep the gift of your life with us. It will continue to give us joy and inspiration.

Rosie – thank you for everything.

A Life That Matters (read by Dr Nicholas Tate)


Adapted from a poem by an Author Unknown

Ready or not, our time must come to an end.
There will be no more sunrises, no minutes, hours or days.
All things collected – treasured or forgotten – will pass to someone else.

It will not matter what was owed or owned.
Wins and losses, once important, will fade away.
And it will not matter where we came from, or on what side of the road we lived.

So how will the value of our days be measured?

What will matter is not what we bought, but what we built; not what we got, but what we gave. Not our success, but our significance. Not what we learned, but what we taught.

What will matter is every act of integrity, compassion, courage or sacrifice that enriched, empowered or encouraged others.

What will matter is not our competence, but our character. Not how many people we knew, but how many will feel a lasting loss when we are gone. Not our memories, but the memories that live on in those who loved us.

Living a life that matters does not happen by accident.
It is not a matter of circumstance, but of choice.

Alegria Nocturna (read by Sonia Martínez)


By Juan Ramón Jiménez

¡Allá va el olor
de la rosa!
¡Cójelo en tu sinrazón!

¡Allá va la luz
de la luna!
¡Cójela en tu plenitud!

¡Allá va el cantar
del arroyo!
¡Cójelo en tu libertad!

1 Corinthians 15: 42-57 (read by Teresa Nunn)


So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable; it is raised imperishable; It is sown in dishonour, it is raised in glory; It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.

If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. So it is written: "The first man Adam became a living being"; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that, the spiritual. The first man was of the dust of the earth, the second man from heaven. As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the man from heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. And just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so shall we bear the likeness of the man from heaven.

I declare to you brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed – in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with the immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory."

"Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?"

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.

The last enemy to be destroyed is death.

But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Psalm 103 8-16 (read by Andrew Maclehose)


The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
    slow to anger, abounding in love.

He will not always accuse,
    nor will he harbor his anger forever;

he does not treat us as our sins deserve
    or repay us according to our iniquities.

For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
    so great is his love for those who fear him;

as far as the east is from the west,
    so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

As a father has compassion on his children,
    so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;

for he knows how we are formed,
    he remembers that we are dust.

The life of mortals is like grass,
    they flourish like a flower of the field;

the wind blows over it and it is gone,
    and its place remembers it no more.

Gospel according to St John, 14: 1-6 (read by Father François Piñas)


Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.

In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you.

I am going there to prepare a place for you.

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.

You know the way to the place where I am going."

Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?"

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."


Music

The three recordings played at the service were:

Ave Maria (Bach/Gounod), sung by Ingrid Kertisi (click here for download)

Misa Criolla ("Gloria"), sung by Mercedes Sosa (click here for download)

Somewhere Over the Rainbow / What a Wonderful World, sung by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole (click here for download). You can also hear a rendition of this song on YouTube by clicking here.

Organ music was played by Hans Schwegler.