Geoff and Ann, in their lovely tributes to Karen, have told us a good deal about her life story and her character, and I’m sure that most of us have our own experiences and memories to add to that – and will enjoy sharing these, both after the service and in the weeks and months to come, as we remember Karen and get used to her absence.

For hers was a long and fully lived life, and there are many happy occasions for her family and friends to reminisce about, from her childhood back in Denmark, to her moving to England as quite a young woman, meeting Bill and returning here after their marriage.

Of their moving to Woldingham back in the 1950s, of the lovely and welcoming home that she created here, in which Ann grew up, and of her involvement in village life, especially the Wives’ Fellowship and the Bridge circle, as well as her travels with Bill. Of long-standing friendships made and of the care and help she gave to others.

And then later, of her needing help herself after her stroke, and of the wonderful way in which Ann, as well as the live-in carers who became part of Karen’s life, provided that care in these last years, and enabled her to remain at home, as she so much wished.

There is much to remember with love and gratitude from Karen’s life. More recently, as she became physically more and more frail, whilst remaining mentally as sharp as ever, she came to feel, as Geoff reminded us, that she was “beyond her sell by date”, and it must have been hard for such an intelligent and independent lady to become so dependent on others.

It’s uplifting, then, for us to have heard the story of Karen’s final days, and of how she seemed to regain some control of things, even as her earthly life came to an end, of her being able to remain in beloved home to the end, and, surrounded by those she most loved, to move peacefully onto the next stage of her life just when the time was right for her to do so.

We don’t know a great deal about what happens after death, but our faith assures us that our lives will continue, and that we will live in the closer presence of the God who made and loves us all; and the Bible readings we’ve heard today give us a couple of fascinating glimpses of the life to come.

In the passage from John’s Gospel, Jesus is been to comfort his closest friends before his own death, and to reassure them that they will meet again in his Father’s house, in one of the many dwelling places he tells them about.

While Jesus can’t stop his friends from being hurt by losing him, he reassures them of God’s everlasting love and care for each one of us, so that what we need to do is to keep trusting in Jesus and trying our best to follow his example in the way that we love and care for other people.

And for those who do this, just as Karen did in the way she led her life and gave so much love and care to her family, friends and community, we’re given the promise that death is not the end, that after this life, they will enter into eternal life, in their Father’s house, and knowing the peace that God alone can give.

And the second reading, from Revelation, reinforces this powerful reassurance, as it looks forward to the end of time, when God will come to live among us and there will be no more suffering or sorrow, and:

“God himself will be with them;
He will wipe every tear from their eyes.
Death will be no more;
mourning and crying and pain will be no more…”

These words can help to reassure us that Karen, now free from the weaknesses and pain of her final years, is now enjoying a fuller life in the closer presence of God and reunited with those who have gone before.

And they can, too, bring comfort to us in the grief that we’re naturally feeling today at Karen’s loss. They promise us that, for those who trust in God, the time will come when all sorrow and pain will have passed away, and we shall all be safe in God’s kingdom, part of his family. Karen herself would surely wanted us to know this comfort, and not to be too sorrowful at her passing – I think she’d have approved of the sentiments of the poem “Miss me but let me go”, that we heard earlier.

So let’s try to hold onto God’s promises today, for ourselves as well as for Karen, rejoicing amid our tears that this good and much loved lady has gone to her well deserved rest, and looking forward to the time when:
“Death will be no more;
Mourning and crying and pains will be no more,
For the first things have passed away.”
Amen.