A different kind of memorial service

I attended a memorial service this afternoon for the man who was my husband's long-time friend and best man in our wedding 51 years ago.  He actually died two months ago in Florida, but his widow waited to have this service until she had moved back to Fort Wayne where they had lived for many years.  She's having some health problems now and wanted to be back close to her family.  I think that because the first shock of his death had passed the service was more relaxed and less somber.  It was actually held at an FOP post here in Fort Wayne since he had been a police officer, even chief of police at one time.  There were lots of fun stories shared, some music, a couple of prayers, and refreshments.  We all sat around tables instead of in long rows. At one point his wife said she wanted to share some information about his last days.  I wasn't sure how graphic she was going to get about his illness, but she didn't dwell on health details.  Instead, she told about the beautiful wall of windows in his hospice room that allowed him a view out to the ocean,  He had always said that he wanted a view of the ocean when he died, and he got it.  I like knowing that.