Funeral Mass Penitential rite: -Lord, you who turn our sadness into gladness, Lord -Christ, you

u who turn our death into resurrection, Christ -Lord, you who turn our darkness into light, Lord Introduction: I have got my leave. Bid me farewell, my brothers and sisters! I bow to you all and take my departure. Here I give back the keys of my door and I give up all claims to my house. I only ask for last kind words from you. We were neighbours for long, but I received more than I could give. A summons has come and I am ready for my journey. After the Homily: We seem to give them back to you, O God, who gave them to us. Yet, as you did not lose them in giving, so we do not lose them by their return. Not as the world gives, do you give. What you give, you do not take away, for what is yours is also ours, if we are yours. And life is eternal and love is immortal and death is only a horizon, and a horizon is but the limit of our sight. As we grieve today at the death of our dear Andrea, a faithful wife, a loving mother and dependable friend, you know our pain, our loss and our tears. Console and comfort her dear ones and fill in the emptiness of those who will really miss her with the belief in your power that turns our sorrow into hope and new life in you. We make this Opening Prayer:

We praise you, God of Abraham, God of Isaac, God of Jacob and God of Job for the little miracle of resurrection, which reminds us of your love. Naked we came and naked shall we return; it is you who give and it is you who have taken away. Blessed be your name. Even beyond death you call us by our names. And you called our sister Andrea your beloved and took her to be beside you always. We remember again, O Lord, our sister Andrea in the absolute sincerity and truthfulness with which he conducted herself that was so part of her whole being. We remember her, as we bid goodbye to her, as that responsive and hospitable person who would look at the needs of others before her own. As we recall and celebrate her memory, we pray that we will share in some small measure the simple joy and upright presence she so elegantly carried. We make this Amen. Intercessions: -That Andrea and all those who have died may experience the fullness of life and love, we pray -That all those in her natural family and the community who will find an irreplaceable vacuum may be comforted, we pray -That all those who had come in contact with Andrea may be inspired by her marvellous example of hard work and dedicated life, we pray -That all those who have been wounded by the death of the one they love may be helped to find the new life that comes through death and suffering, we pray

-That all those who are dying and are afraid may have the courage and strength to go on their last journey, we pray -That all those doctors, nurses, medical and other personnel who assisted her, stood by her, prayed for her be blessed and rewarded in some way, we pray