The funeral was very moving, Peter. Even though our friend Mary was 92 and it might seem would have "Outlived her friends and her enemies" (From Old Summer Wine,) there was a good turnout. Good people touch all generations and races. When Ruth and I went up to offer our condolences to the family I was quite surprised when Mary's son who is very simple, recognized me immediately. He looked up with a big grin and said, "You're Jerry Rasmussen from the Stamford Museum. You can really play that guitar!" I only met Mary's song three or four times in my life, and not in the most desireable circumstances as he was putting in his time in Community Service at the Museum, propping up a rake hours at a time. I wasn't even aware that he'd ever heard me play, but Mary loved to hear my quartet, the Gospel Messengers.

The music that was chosen for the Home-going service was rather formal choral music because Mary sang in the Sanctuary Choir (which rarely does gospel music.) As people were filing out, the director of the Men's Chorus led us in doing I'll Fly Away, and that was great fun. My friend Joe who sang bass in the Gospel Messengers and was Best Man at our wedding was on one side of me, and my friend Arthur from Jamaica who also sings bass was on the other. Joe sang bass, Arthur sang the melody and I sang the baritone harmony. I threw an arm over each of their shoulders and that's the way we sang. Not very formal looking, because I love Joe and Arthur and the feeling is mutual. But I knew Mary was enjoying it.