The weather forecast said it would rain today. But it turned out to be a clear day just as it miraclously was in New York when we visited in April.
At 12:30 there already were some attendees to see Maria for the last time. Maria lay waiting for us in the chapel of Kiyose Salvation Army Hospice, with her face made up beautifully.
The news was sent out the last night. Despite of the short notice, many managed to attend the service. I recognized many familiar faces. Mieko, who lives in Hawaii, happened to be in Japan with her husband and she could see Maria. Over all, about 50 people paid their last respects.
The service was held with the Salvation Army Church rite. While the floral tributes, Ave Maria, the music Bob recorded for her, was played. The ceremony started at 13:30 and ended at 14:30 as planned.
Sent off by friends, Maria left for Tama Reien crematory. Her remain was cremated at 4:20 and her soul returned to the heaven. The cremains were young and healthy and filled the largest urn.
Then she came back to her apartment at Azabu Juban, the home sweet home of hers.
Two of Maria's sisters, Yuri, Naoko ma, Kochi, Ms Grasshopper, and I were together like a family.
We shared the stories of Maria like a family.
Her sister shared that Maria told her she was happy at the end.
"At the age of 54" ... when the minister disclosed her age, we could feel the entire attendees caught their breath in unison as if a taboo was broken.
It is nothing but a funny story in retrospect.
"OMG... Maria would be upset," Sis Kimi said.
"She was angry in the coffin," somebody else said.
"If the minister had said 'at the age of 56' by mistake, Maria would have jumped out," somebody else said and we all cried and laughed.
We left around 8:30, bidding the last farewell to Maria's apartment, where we had visited many times.
by Mari
Edited and translated by J. Ujiie
本日の天気予報は雨・・・・のはずが、4月に訪れましたＮＹの奇跡のようにまたまた
よいお天気となりました。
12時半、既にぽつぽつと早くからまりあさんに会いにいらっしゃる参列のお客様。
救世軍清瀬病院の中にあるチャペルに綺麗にお化粧されたまりあちゃんは横たわってみんなを
待っていました。
急な金曜日の夕方のお知らせにも拘らず、たくさんの方が、参列くださいました。懐かしい顔ぶれが見えました。
ハワイの美恵子さんもご夫妻で偶然の日本滞在でまりあちゃんに会えました。
集まったお客様は50名くらいでしたでしょうか。
救世軍教会式で執り行われた告別式。献花の際にはボブの演奏（ピアノ）するAVE MARIA
のＣＤが流されて、13時半から予定の14時半で終了。
皆さんに見送られて、多磨霊園へと向かい、4時半には火葬され、まりあさんの魂は天に
召されました。 骨はしっかりと若く一番大きな骨壷にぎりぎり収まりました。
そして大好きだった麻布十番のマンションへと戻りました。
二人のお姉さんたちと ゆりさん、なおこかーさん、こち、いなごちゃん、私、なんだか家族のように身内話をわいわい、それぞれのまりあちゃんのエピソード話。
まりあちゃん、最後は幸せだった〜ってお姉さんにいったそうです。
享年54歳 年は牧師さんがばらしちゃったの・・・・・
会場が全員ビクンとして、（いいの？）って空気だったのが、あとで笑い話。
「どうしよう・・・まりあに怒られる」っておねえちゃんが言うと、だれかが「お棺の中でも怒っていたね」
「年を間違えて、56歳でも言ったら、とび起きてたね」って、みんなで泣き笑いしました。
8時半ころ解散。
いっぱい通ったまりあちゃんのマンションに本当のさようならを言って、帰ってきました。
by Mari
