I’ve just come from one of the most memorable ‘thanksgiving services’ I’ve ever attended.

The order of service began with a welcome:

Welcome to all of you

welcome to those who believe

welcome to those who do not believe

welcome to those who do not know what to believe

welcome to those who believe in another way

welcome to those who have been too hurt to believe anything.

You are here because of the love and respect you have for Frank and his family.   Thank you.

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Frank had arranged most of this service before he passed away.

He’d arranged with his ‘mate’ Rev. John Edwards: ‘Agreed. Whoever dies first: I won’t tell lies about you if you don’t tell the truth about me!’ And: ‘If you take my funeral, I’ll never ask you to do another thing for me…’

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There was a recorded rendition of Kenneth McKellar singing ‘O Love that will not let me go’. The two grandchildren lit candles…

And someone said ‘Whatever our faith, or honest lack of it, we agree that it is appropriate to be thankful today.’

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We all sang ‘Be thou my Vision’. Another pastor, Derek Poupard, led in a prayer for the family. There was a eulogy by a friend from Frank’s days as a bank manager.

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Then three memorable reflections from each of the special women in Frank’s life: his daughter Claire, then his wife Carol, and then his other daughter Kristina.

Someone said: ‘We’d gathered around his bed on his last night. He said “I’m dying”. We said, “Yes you are…” “But I’m dying…” “Yes you are, dad.” “But I’m dying for a drink!”‘

One of his daughters referred to him as ‘Frank the crank from the National Bank’.

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And some wisdom about Frank: ‘If you look hard enough you’ll find good in everyone… even if you have to dig deep to find it…’    And: ‘Hope can carry you further than you think you have the strength to go…’

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We sang ‘Make Me a Channel of Your Peace’…

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In a video especially prepared by Frank for this occasion he took us on a journey from his childhood to his last days. There was more of his humour and his wisdom.

Like:

* ‘You all sure you’re at the right funeral?’

* ‘Grandchildren are the reward you get for not shooting your kids when they were teenagers!’

* ‘Accept the cards you are dealt, and do the best you can with them!’

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Before John Edwards read two of the prayers Frank had composed (he often did that for services at the East Doncaster Baptist Church), John told us ‘We’re all unique, but Frank was more unique than anyone I’ve known!’ .

From one of the prayers: ‘Help us to bear one another’s burdens on this journey, and when we’re through with life, Lord, carry us home!’

John reminded us   (from Ralph Waldo Emerson):    To laugh often and much; To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; To appreciate beauty, to find the best in others; To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.  

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I was privileged to visit Frank a few times in the oncology section of the Epworth hospital in the weeks before he died.

Last time after I prayed with him he then said: ‘Can I say a prayer?’

‘Sure.’

‘And thank you Lord for renewing my friendship with Rowland.’

That was all. Made my day…

His Thanksgiving Service was a special gift of humour, comfort, truth and encouragement to all the 500 friends who jammed into the church. At the end of the video after Frank spoke to us, he put his fingers to his lips and blew us all a kiss! That’s never happened in any ‘Funeral Service’ I’ve ever attended!

Thank you Frank Fricke!

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Rowland Croucher

July 12, 2012

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Frank’s online guestbook here.