3330Joey's service
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Patti & John SeitzFeb 20, 2000
Hi Frynds,
This is hard for me to write, but I know y'all are wanting to know, so
here goes.
I just got home from Joey's funeral. I want you all to know, the
support you have all shown to Joey's family means just SO MUCH to them.
They are overwhelmed at the response they've had from the frynds. We've
made it a little easier for them to bear. They feel that we all helped
Joey to keep going for the last year, that the love & fryndship that we
showed him gave the last part of his life new and special meaning.
Representing you ALL were Cyndal, Guitarzan, Dixie, Rae, Travelin'
Travelin's Man, AirArt, and myself.
The service was beautiful. It was just as Joey wanted it. It opened
with "Freebird". At the front of the alter was a really nice collage of
pix of Joey, at different times of his life. There were many pictures
that included some of you with Joey, as well as many family pictures,
and one with Joey & Artimus. There was also a beautiful flower
arrangement, with 3 white doves in it. After Freebird, there were 2
other songs, "Amazing Grace", and "If Tomorrow Never Comes" (Garth
Brooks). The Pastor read some scriptures and said some kind words,
including how amazed he was and the family was of the loyalty & love
shown to Joey by us chatters. He referred to us (ALL the chatters)
several tymes.
After that, a Reverend read aloud several messages the family had
received. He read messages from Javamonkey, Valerie Brown, Claudia,
Wailer & Southpaw, Chris (AirArt), and his uncle/frynd/"brother" Tommy,
whom many of us have met.
There wasn't a dry eye in the church as he read these messages full of
love from y'all. Everyone was very touched, you all wrote some very
nice things. There is a program/pamphlet of the service, and all of you
whose messages were read are listed in it (except Java). I have an
extra copy for each of you, if you want it.
After the reading, there were some more songs, and at the end,
Freebird was again played. Then everyone went outside the church, and a
single white dove was released in Joey's memory. Unfortunately, the
dove wasn't cooperative, and wouldn't fly away, but it was still very
memorable.
The family invited us all to join them for some food, and we all spent
an hour or so chatting with Joey's wonderful family. We heard over and
over how wonderful the chatters all are, and how much we all meant to
Joey, and to his family. I could really feel the love this family has
for all of us, for helping Joey just by being his frynds. Don't doubt
it for a second that you all meant the world to Joey. There was a thick
notebook on one of the tables, that everyone was invited to read. It
contained all the printed out messages that we have all sent, each one
in a plastic sleeve. This notebook will be kept for Joey's children, so
that some day, they will see just how special their daddy was. The
family gave Joey's favorite shirt (the one we all know him in best, the
airbrushed Freebird) to AirArt, who had made it for him.
It was a very sad and emotional day to say the least, but we all know
in our hearts that now he's free. May you rest in peace frynd Joey.
)))) Blenderbabe