EULOGY FOR OUR DEAR FRIEND "ERROL".
On behalf of the "Holy Name of Jesus" Prayer Group.
On behalf of the past and present members of “The Holy Name of Jesus Prayer Group, I have been asked to say a few words about our good and trusted Friend Errol”.
The Prayer Group has been on-going for over twenty years with Merle and Errol at the helm. Each week over all those years, they graciously hosted many members in their home and enjoyed a friendly Christ focused fellowship. Their longstanding commitment and support in helping others to grow in their Faith journey will always be treasured and remembered by all participants.
Everyone who has experienced their jovial fellowship and learning, would have gone away a much better Christian. While Merle lead the Group, Errol provided the unrelenting support and the professionalism required.
Errol was a unique person, a man small in stature, but with a giant’s heart of gold; willing to assist anyone anywhere. He was always full of laughter and treated each of us warmly, and as part of his family. He always welcomed the ladies with a hug and a kiss, and greeted the men with a firm handshake. Errol was extremely outgoing and had an amazing quality to make friends wherever he went.
He was always so friendly, considerate and compassionate. He would stop anywhere to sit and have a chat with friend or stranger.
I treasure the memory of one day of sitting with him on the roof of his house repairing some tiles, when a few times he just wanted to sit and chat for a while to give me a break. Sitting on roof tiles was not comfortable, particularly in the heat. But nevertheless, both of us enjoyed our private moments.
On another occasion, during a Group visit to Queensland one year, we were at a shopping centre waiting for Merle to come out of a dress shop. While the Group waited, Errol wandered away for a quiet stroll around. When Merle discovered he was missing, she declared him lost and took off in a great rate of knots looking for him, and none of us could keep up. On finding him some time later, she gave him a serve, Errol firmly maintained that “he knew very well where he was”. That was the nature of the man.
As a drinker, Errol was not a beer fan, but did like a taste from the top shelf, like double smoked Johnny Walker. Mostly however, He only drank providing that he had a friend or two to share with. He was such a generous man who always put everyone else before himself – he possessed a powerful Christian trait.
A similarity I shared with Errol was our mutual physical difficulty with hearing. On occasions we would have discussions between us which quickly got off the track due to one or both of us mishearing questions or what was being said. This provided lots of laughter among the group and also from any other onlookers.
Other memorable treasures was the annual Seniors’ day out, which we used to have annually. These days were always both enjoyable and filled with adventurous excitement; far too many to mention. So too, were the annual Dinner Dances we attended and the End of Year/Christmas and birthday celebrations. In all of these, Errol was always the life of the party. We are all honoured to have shared some of our life with him, and for him to call us Friend.
Yesterday I was given a short Tribute to Errol from Jaya – an 11 year old Grand-daughter of one of our Prayer Group members:- She wrote:-
“No one believes that it was real. We don’t know why it happened to him. He is the most caring person in the world we know. Everyone doesn't know what to do without him. His family are broken with his death. He is one of the most beloved friends we have. But at least we know he is safe in heaven. Rest in Peace, Errol”.
Today, as we grieve on this sad day, we say farewell to our "Great Mate". However, through our Faith, we are assured that Errol is continuing to intercede for all of us in a happier and higher place than he ever did on this earth before.
We are eternally grateful for the blessings of having him as a friend and confidant. To Merle and all her Family, we extend our love and sympathy. We have all lost a great Friend. But his memory we’ll always hold dear.
Errol used to love to watch movies and good westerns in particular.
So now we say to him: “Errol, Adios Amigo”
May you rest in peace for evermore.
AMEN.
