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R.I.P. Farelf


Mike.Sheen

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Hi,

On 26 May 2015, My father George Stephen Sheen passed away. You knew him here as Farelf. Dad took a special interest in spam, and since his retirement from working, he spent a significant amount of time and energy on these forums, assisting others in the fight against spam.

For those that knew him, I quote below an except from an old sermon he left for us to find (he was stricken with cancer and knew his time was limited) - I read this at his funeral on 29 May 2015. I think it was something he thought would help those that knew him in accepting his death.

Death is nothing at all.
It does not count.
I have only slipped away into the next room.
Nothing has happened.

Everything remains exactly as it was.
I am I, and you are you,
and the old life that we lived so fondly together is untouched, unchanged.
Whatever we were to each other, that we are still.

Call me by the old familiar name.
Speak of me in the easy way which you always used.
Put no difference into your tone.
Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow.

Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes that we enjoyed together.
Play, smile, think of me, pray for me.
Let my name be ever the household word that it always was.
Let it be spoken without an effort, without the ghost of a shadow upon it.

Life means all that it ever meant.
It is the same as it ever was.
There is absolute and unbroken continuity.
What is this death but a negligible accident?

Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight?
I am but waiting for you, for an interval,
somewhere very near,
just round the corner.

All is well.
Nothing is hurt; nothing is lost.
One brief moment and all will be as it was before.
How we shall laugh at the trouble of parting when we meet again!

Henry Scott Holland
From the sermon "The King of Terrors", preached in St Paul’s Cathedral, London, Sunday 15th May 1910, following the death of King Edward VII.

Can someone please see to it the necessary adjustments are made to your records (i.e.: disabling of the account).

Thanks,

George Michael Thomas Sheen

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Hi, Mike,

&nbsp &nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp Having wiped the tears from my eyes a few times, I can now write to thank you very much for lending us your dad. Rest assured that he will be sorely missed, for not only the stellar work he did here but also his warmth and kindness.

&nbsp &nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp The eulogy is reminiscent of my favorite song: "You're There" -- music by David Friedman and lyrics by Alix Korey. I recommend listening to the Barry Manilow version (even if you're not a Manilow fan) on YouTube and following along with lyrics (Manilow's version is slightly different than others I've seen).

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I only just read this, with great shock.

He was one of the funniest, wisest and kindest people this forum ever had. His insightful and witty contributions were always a joy to read. Sometimes the penny would only drop for me at the third reading and I would burst out laughing. From what Mike says above, and from the person with whom I became acquainted from the several PMs we exchanged, I think the best tribute I can pay is to keep in mind the patience and knowledge he would always offer when posting.

Penny

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