Page 15 - Gwen Landsberry - Eulogies

A reading from a letter from Mum to me

by Rob Landsberry
(son)

Hi Rob

It’s Mum here. And yes…I’m writing to you after my death. It’s great,
isn’t it?
First of all, I’m so sorry that I’ve left you. I know how devastated you’ll
be, Rob, particularly since you don’t handle death at all well. What was
it you used to say to me? Oh yes. I remember. Your problem with death
was that you found it hard to imagine your life without you in it. I used
to like that one!!
I know that was a bit of a joke. But I also know that there’s some truth
to it because you worry about death…a lot. I was so glad when you
shared a curry and a bottle of red with Father Mark last December, to
talk with him about faith, death and all things Godly. I’m sure it helped.

I want to tell you a bit about my own Faith, because it’s been such a
comfort to me. Across my 92 years, my faith was as much a part of my
life as every breath I took. Our whole family was built on the rock of that
faith. And we were stronger for it, Rob.

I was so lucky to have been born into the O’Brien family. Eleven siblings
walked beside me throughout my life, supporting me through bad times,
and sharing all the best of times. Do you remember how your Dad used
to call it the “O’Brien Family Festival”? He used that as a joke. But for
me it really was a “festival”. A festival of love and faith and fun.

Years ago, you asked me if I was worried about dying, and I said, “not at
all”, but then I added, “well except for one thing. I worry that maybe I
haven’t done enough, or been good enough to deserve a place in
Heaven”.
I’ll never forget what you said to me, Rob. You said: “Mum, if you don’t
get a place in Heaven, then there’s just going to be Mother Theresa
sitting there on her own, twiddling her thumbs”.

That was one of many thousands of moments I had, when I looked at
my kids and felt a wave of love wash over me. You three kids. You’ve
been my world. I really do hope I was a good enough Mum for you all. I
can tell you honestly that I tried every day. And some of those days were
hard.