The funeral sounds absolutely perfect. My mom didn't want that, so after her death from ALS last year, we had a celebration of life. It wasn't solemn and moving, like Jack's, and the ceremonies are for the living anyway. Still, as humans, it's so important to recognize and place value on the end of a life, whether through celebration or ceremony. I'm very sorry for your loss, but how wonderful to have taken the opportunity to spend all that time with them. That's leaving fewer regrets.

At my mother-in-law's Catholic funeral five years ago, the priest said, "if you mourn today, I say to you 'very good,' for you loved your friend well. If you do not mourn today, I say to you, 'very good' for you have spent your time with your friend well and have fewer regrets."

That is a wonderful gift in our lives: fewer regrets.