Harmon Killebrew honored in funeral service

PEORIA, Ariz. -- It was a large gathering. Hundreds of people from across the country packed into a massive church near Harmon Killebrew's Scottsdale, Arizona, home to pay their final respects to the slugger. Killebrew passed away Tuesday after a difficult battle with esophageal cancer.

Pall bearers included current Twins Ron Gardenhire and Justin Morneau as well as former teammates Frank Quilici and Tony Oliva.

"Dad, I feel it's a privilege to call you dad. I will miss you greatly," Killebrew's daughter Shawn Bair said.

One of Harmon's grandchildren, his son-in-law and his oldest son also spoke.

Watch the funeral service: part one, part two, part three

It was a celebration of Harmon's life off the baseball field. He will be fondly remembered for the way he treated everyone equally and with the greatest respect. It is, perhaps, his legacy.

"Like he always told us, keep swinging," Harmon's son Cam said.

Former teammate and fellow Hall of Famer Bert Blyleven spoke on behalf of the Minnesota Twins and Major League Baseball. He recalled the conversation he had with his buddy the day before he passed. Killebrew was concerned.

"You know what he was concerned about? The Twins were oh and eight," Blyleven said.

Hammerin' Harmon hit 573 home runs in his storied career. Blyleven asked the crowd to help celebrate his 574th.

"He wants to hear the roar of the crowd," Blyleven said before leading a long, respectful and heart-warming ovation. "We should all leave here knowing he touched our lives," Blyleven concluded.

Following the funeral current Twins Joe Nathan and Michael Cuddyer told reporters that Harmon left his mark on them, calling him a model to follow as an athlete and as a person. The Twins would leave after the service to get ready for a night game in Phoenix against the Diamondbacks.

"We all left the church this morning with a good feeling in our hearts that we're going to see him again. I think my good friend upstairs just needed another power hitter," former teammate and baseball legend Rod Carew said.

A private burial is scheduled Monday in Killebrew's hometown of Payette, Idaho

LINK

Free Pre-Paid Cremation!

How could anyone pass up such a thoughtful offer from the Neptune Society? LINK: Boingboing

Ashes to Art: Whimsical Urns as Art

Urn-A-Matic, made from vintage vacuum cleaner parts, by Darin Montgomery

Quick, what does the word "cremation" bring to your mind? An image of spending eternity in a boring ol’ urn? Well, not anymore. Behold the new trend in the cremation industry: artistic funerary urns!

"I wouldn’t be making urns if they were just a cookie jar with a lid on top, sitting on a mantel," Knapp said. "That’s too morbid. If it’s a wacky-looking guy holding his own ashes over his head — now that lightens everything. The baby boomers all want to stand out. Even in the end, we want some whimsical receptacle for ourselves."

Jeff Spurrier of the Los Angeles Times has the story: Link | Photo Gallery, Via: Neatorama

Previously on Neatorama (all the way from 2007): Darin Montgomery’s Urn-A-Matic

21-year-old raises money for her funeral

“Just days before Christmas, a young woman with muscular dystrophy is planning her own funeral, so she won’t leave the burden behind for her family. Sierra Cooper, 21, has battled muscular dystrophy her entire life, then she received another blow: Being diagnosed with cystic fibrosis. Now, Sierra faces a grim outlook and doctors said she has little time left. “If it was up to me, she’d have another 30 to 40 years and she’d bury me,” Sallie Cooper, Sierra’s mother, said. “You’re not supposed to bury your child.” Sierra may only have weeks left. This Christmas, her wish isn’t under the tree this year. She’s asking for donations to help pay for her funeral.” LINK

Lucky's Funeral

Maya says a few solemn words about Lucky the goldfish before flushing him down the toilet, even though her mom keeps cracking up. LINK: Youtube

This is touching, it brought tears to my eyes.