Funeral service.
let me welcome you to this ceremony to pay tribute and say farewell to an exceptional girl, Nicola Ann Orridge. My name is Nicola Dela-Croix. I’m a Civil Funeral Celebrant and it’s my privilege to be leading this ceremony today.
There are really no words to describe the pain and sorrow experienced by Nicola’s loved-ones and friends since her death on the 8th February. Your grief is immense, and that grief is a measure of the great love you have for her.
You will all be feeling a powerful mix of emotions – in addition to the grief, there is perhaps confusion, anger, regret and the pain of thinking ‘If only…’ Those feelings are unavoidable and only to be expected in such painful circumstances. But today, let us recognise that the ‘What if…’ questions we fling at life usually have no answers; that taunting ourselves with the thought that we could have changed events, fails to recognise that there are some things we simply cannot control.
So while we mourn the loss of what could have been, we must also pay tribute to what was. Nicola achieved so much in her 17 years. A clever, friendly, talented, loving, caring and colourful girl; Nicola’s life may have been short, but the joy of having shared her life, and the pride of having known her, will live on in your hearts forever.
Our ceremony today includes several pieces of music, chosen by Nicola’s family, as a way of reflecting Nicola’s unique character, and their deep love for her. In between songs we shall recall Nicola’s life and hear a personal tribute from Lynn and Howard, before we make our way to the graveside.
MUSIC AND READING
Our first piece of music, will be introduced by Nicola’s dad Howard…
MUSIC – You’re Never Over by Eminem
TRIBUTE
By dying young a person stays young forever in people’s memory.
If she burns brightly before she dies Her light shines for all time.
Nicola shone brightly and her light will never fade. Let’s remind ourselves just what is was that made Nicola so special, so unique, with a tribute to her life and achievements, written by her parents Lynn and Howard.
Nicola was born on Saturday 6th March 1993 – 16 days late. She wasn’t early many times throughout her life, but never let us down on important occasions. We often called Nic ‘a bat’ in fun, because she seemed to function better at night; she was not a morning person.
As with most families these days mum and dad both worked and Nicola went to childminder Gill Beckett from the tender age of 5 months old, until she left Sherard Primary School and went to Sarson High School.
Nicola excelled at school and did extremely well in her GCSEs gaining 4 A*s, 4 As and a distinction in a BTEc which is equivalent to 2 A*s. In following her childhood dream of becoming an astronaut, she went off to QE college in Leicester, coping with the travelling, long days and cold buses without too much moaning. But it was clear she was growing up, and realised becoming an astronaut wasn’t what she really wanted, so she bravely returned to KE7 and was currently repeating her first year of A levels. She had vague plans of a gap year, maybe visiting friends and family in Australia, but nothing was decided or fixed.
Growing up Nicola loved the colour yellow, and had always wanted a yellow car, although in the last few years she favoured red and black more. Another of Nicola’s dreams was to be a bridesmaid, which seemed almost possible when Brian and Lucy got engaged last year.
Nicola was a brownie, guide, badger, cadet and a pretty good swimmer in the swimming club. Nicola also loved horse riding, which unfortunately she wasn’t able to keep on with, due to the cost. Nicola loved taking photographs as well, which was a family trait.
Nicola was a happy person but her life was marred by problems with her teeth and her figure. She went through a breast reduction operation in the summer of 2009, an operation which she fought everyone hard for.
And in the end even her mum had to admit Nicola had been right, and clothes shopping trips had become an enjoyable experience.
Nicola had been elected the first-ever young mayor of Melton Mowbray at the age of 14, and enjoyed a fabulous year full of exciting new experiences, but also a lot of very hard work – work that many adults would have struggled to cope with.
Over the past couple of years Nicola had changed her hair colour many times. It was her trademark and kept everyone guessing. But since starting her first job at Ragdale Hall in October, this had been curtailed somewhat. Nicola also loved shoes, the higher and more outrageous the better! On the Saturday before she died she had treated herself out of her wages to a stunning pair of killer boots.
Nicola was a very kind, loving and generous person. She adored her brothers Billy and Michael, although there was the usual family fall outs and teasing. Nicola loved all her cousins to bits, but especially Hazel and Aaron.
Nicola found her enrichment time at Birchwood Special School very rewarding and was inspired by how the children coped with their difficulties.
In the last 16 months or so of her life, Nicola also adored Ryan, her boyfriend, and his family. Practically her last words were “I love Ryan from the bottom of my heart”.
Nicola was her mum and dad's Angel and all her family will miss her, and regret not being there for her when she needed us most.
We would like to thank Nicola for being a wonderful daughter and giving us so much, and say that everyone will miss her for the rest of their lives.
MOMENT OF REFLECTION
The picture I’ve just drawn you of Nicola’s life is simply an outline, but now you have an opportunity to fill in the colours. We’re going to pause for a moment of reflection, so you can call to mind your own personal memories of Nicola. And bring back those things that are special to you.
Music: I Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing by Aerosmith
PARENT’S TRIBUTE
Before we listen to our final piece of music, we’re going to hear a personal tribute to Nicola from her parents Lynn and Howard…
Music: Sweet Child of Mine by Guns and Roses
COMMITTAL
It is now time to say farewell to Nicola. After a short reading and final words, we will commit Nicola’s body to its final resting place, and you will then have the opportunity to come forward, place your flowers and say your goodbyes.
We gather to return to the natural cycle of life and death that part of Nicola, which cannot remain with us. But we remember with love, joy and gladness that there is part of Nicola which will forever live on in you and through you. For although she is no longer a visible part of your lives, Nicola will always remain a member of your family and of your circle. We never really lose those we love as long as we remember them.
Nicola’s memory is already committed safe and warm in your hearts; it is now time, with deepest regrets and sadness, to commit her body.
So let us be thankful for the life of Nicola Ann Orridge.
Her laughter was better than the birds in the morning,
her smile turned the edge of the wind,
her memory disarms death and charms the surly grave.
Early she went to bed,
too early we saw her light put out;
yet we could not grieve more than a little while,
For she lives in the earth around us, laughs from the sky.
Cecil Day Lewis
Thank you Nicola for the love you gave to your family, the gift you were to your friends, and the many blessings you brought into their lives.
Your kind-heart, generous spirit and colourful character we commit to our memories.
Your loves and friendships we commit to our hearts.
We rejoice that you lived.
We are glad we saw your face.
We treasure your contribution to our world.
So we commit the body of Nicola Ann Orridge to the earth, wishing it were not so, but remembering the good, the strong and the joyful in her life.
I will leave you now to say your goodbyes…
www.civil-funeral-celebrant.co.uk
From Nicola Dela-Croix on 17/03/2011