My father-in-law’s Baha’i funeral

Just a week ago, my father-in-law David Lewis’s funeral took place. He had been an NCO and sapper during the Second World War, spending time in North Africa and Italy. After the war he married, had two children, worked as an architect for Glamorgan County Council and subsequently for Hampshire County Council and lived an active life as a Baha’i, father, grandfather, great grandfather, and all-round  lovely man.

Alex Leith and his grandfather, David Lewis, in 2006

At the age of 87, his body suddenly gave out and he went from independent living to hospital to his death in a matter of a few weeks.

The funeral took place in Winchester (that’s the former capital of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Wessex, whose most famous monarch was King Alfred) in a delightful, peaceful chapel belonging to the excellent funeral directors, Richard Steel and Partners.

As you can see from these pictures, there’s a beautiful walled garden outside the chapel. David’s children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren took great delight in this place of peace and spiritual solace.

Simple service

Baha’i funeral services can be as simple or as elaborate as the family wishes. The essential part of any Baha’i funeral, however, is the recitation of the obligatory Prayer for the Dead.

At David’s funeral – attended by family, friends and his neighbours, all the prayers and readings from the Baha’i Holy Writings were recited by members of David’s family: his daughter, his son, his son-in-law, grandchildren. There were tears, of course, but the spirit was light, joyous, as was right for David, whose belief in God and in the life after death was unshakeable.

O my God! O Thou forgiver of sins, bestower of gifts, dispeller of afflictions!

Verily, I beseech Thee to forgive the sins of such as have abandoned the physical garment and have ascended to the spiritual world.

O my Lord! Purify them from trespasses, dispel their sorrows, and change their darkness into light. Cause them to enter the garden of happiness, cleanse them with the most pure water, and grant them to behold Thy splendours on the loftiest mount.

[A prayer by ‘Abdu’l-Baha, eldest Son of Baha'u'llah, Founder of the Baha'i Faith]

What kind of man was he?

David was one of the most loving and unassuming men I have ever met. The core of his being was his faith as a Baha’i. This letter from the Universal House of Justice, the Baha’i community’s world governing council, will give some sense of David’s character.

The Universal House of Justice was grieved to learn of the passing of dearly loved David Lewis, a devoted follower of Baha’u'llah. Over decades of tireless service to the Cause of God, including time spend as an Auxiliary Board member in the United Kingdom and as a pioneer to Malta, he demonstrated nobility of character and highly refined spiritual qualities. Of particular note is the responsibility he had for planning and supervising the erection of the monument at the Resting Place of Shoghi Effendi and his subsequent association with its preservation as well as the beautification of the surroundings. Kindly convey to his family and friends the loving sympathy of the House of Justice, assuring them of its prayers in the Holy Shrines for the progress of his illumined soul throughout the divine worlds.

Technorati Tags: Baha’i, Bahai, death, life after death, David Lewis, funeral, prayer, spirituality

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Tagged as: Baha'i, David Lewis, death, funeral, life after death, prayer, Spirituality